Game Recap/Notes: Game #62. Pistons 106 - Hornets 117. (15-47)
Simultaneously disappointing and encouraging. On one hand, beaten fairly soundly (the difference was around 20 points for most of the game) by an awful Hornets team, but on the other hand, the Pistons have tons of injury issues and the young bigs played pretty well and even if the deficit was larger most of the night, they did show some fight to get within striking distance.
Killian Hayes:
Didn’t score very well with 12 points on 4-13 shooting from the field and 4-4 from the line, but he was effective everywhere else. 10 assists with just 1 turnover, 4 steals and a pair of blocks. I won’t say that this is a game where he stood out for how effective he was with regards to non-scoring things, he has had those games, but he was overall still effective tonight. I think it is worth pointing out the degree to which he (and James Wiseman) suddenly looked far more comfortable operating in the half-court when there is adequate shooting around him. He still isn’t scoring but the gaps for passes are so much larger.
Alec Burks:
Only an okay outing for Burks as he scored 17 points on 6-15 shooting from the field and went just 1-8 from deep (4-4 at the line). A credit to him that he stayed aggressive even on a night where his shot wasn’t really falling.
Rodney McGruder:
I’m sure he provided lots of good veteran experience with his 4 points on 1-6 shooting. And I say that unironically. he wasn’t good but at least people guard him beyond the arc and he’s not actually here to give good minutes.
Isaiah Livers:
Only played 8 minutes and missed all 3 shots before suffering some sort of ankle injury and didn’t return. Given how thin the Pistons already are that is not good, also not good that Livers could potentially miss more time just as a bigger role was opening up for him.
James Wiseman:
Stark difference with how effective he can be on offense when defenders have to respect shooters on the floor. This game was the fully upside for Wiseman offensively. 23 points on 9-11 shooting while hitting 4-6 shots from the line along with 7 boards. There was one possession where he just carried the ball in transition and sliced through defenders for a layup and those are exactly the types of plays where you go “oh that’s why he was a blue-chipper.” Also had a massive dunk. Perhaps the esteemed Lazarus Jackson said it best:
This is what I meant in “Meet James Wiseman” when I talked about how, even if he does flop completely no one will blame the people who thought he could be something. Compare him to RJ Hampton who fell into the 20s but was initially viewed as a consensus top 5 pick. Watch Hampton and there’s so little there, watch Wiseman and you see the upside. Now its up to him to reach it. Good game from Wiseman.
Marvin Bagley:
They didn’t play much together but Bagley joined Wiseman in the destruction. 21 points on 10-16 shooting from the field with 12 assists. Bagley even made a nice pass for an assist!! He, much like Wiseman, was too big and skilled for the Hornets soft interior and gave work to Mark Williams at various points. As much as my disdain for this attempt to have Bagley and Wiseman on the team together, I won’t pretend that I dislike having a huge athletic finisher on the floor at all times.
Cory Joseph:
nah
RJ Hampton:
Played 23 minutes and he was very bad. 2 points on 1-6 shooting and his defensive footwork is abysmal. I’d still rather him than CoJo but ho man it is clear why a guy who was once considered a big-time prospect has been given up on by two teams already.
Hamidou Diallo:
Hami just out here staying entertaining and trying to keep things worth watching. In 33 minutes he scored 23 points on 10-15 shooting in a whirlwind of drives and was only slowed down by 5 fouls.
General:
Hard to get overly upset about losses at this point. The tank is on in earnest and I wouldn’t be shocked if Bojan’s injury hangs around the rest of the season. Great to see Wiseman and Bagley play well.