Game Recap/notes: Game #8 Pistons 108 - Bucks 110
Sorry for missing last game. Did watch, genuinely forgot there was another game today so I thought I could just do a late recap tonight. Anyways.
Tough way to lose. The Pistons fought back several times, and it was weird because until the very end it felt like even when the Pistons got close that the Bucks were still in total control.
Cade Cunningham:
We are witnessing the jump I think. Another monster performance from Cade, 27 points on 24 shot equivalents with 6 boards and 7 assists. Once again he did most of his damage earlier in the game, but that’s fine with me. Walking into a elbow jumper is quickly becoming his signature look while he also hit several pullup threes and made multiple excellent passes. Unfortunately he got a couple of excellent looks at the end of the game and couldn’t cash either one in but still a great night for Cunningham.
It is also worth remembering that he is doing all this in some genuinely strenuous circumstances. The Pistons are often playing 4 on 5 offensively and he is fighting thru it. The Bucks tossed the full Jrue Holiday experience at Cade for much of the second half, which is almost cruel when they can spell Holiday with Jevon Carter for short stretches, Cade must’ve been exhausted.
Jaden Ivey:
Not a great night because the efficiency wasn’t there. but 19 points on 19 equivalents is acceptable when you hit some of the shots he hit. A stretch in the 3rd quarter he was on with the bench and made several huge plays with drives to the hoop, and even though it would’ve been nice if he could’ve hit one of his four threes, it felt like every of his baskets was highly difficult and highly meaningful. It should be noted that he also had a couple of drives where he didn’t really have a plan that did not work out at all. Also worth noting, he played 40 minutes.
This game also highlights the awesome potential of the Cade/Ivey pairing. Cade plays at one speed, walking causally into jumpers and physical drives, while Ivey is a supernova of silky layups and aggression.
Saddiq Bey:
Coming off a huge game against the Warriors, Saddiq was quiet with just 10 points on 9 shots. He got into some foul trouble and only played 27 minutes, wasn’t bad, even put a couple of nice defensive possessions on Giannis, but just didn’t ever get into rythmn. Since I didn’t get to write a recap of last game I’d just like to say that I probably have to turn in my “Saddiq Bey Hater” card because I’ve been really impressed with him this season and even games like this where he can slide back out of the offense without cratering.
Bojan Bogdanovic:
Its becoming standard at this point. 23 points, 17 shot equivalents, 3-6 from deep excellent combination of movement off the ball and aggression when he has it. The newly paid Bogdanovic played excellent ball.
Isaiah Stewart:
11 points on as many shot equivalents. 5 fouls, 11 rebounds. 0-2 from deep.
Isaiah Livers:
Didn’t make a huge mark in his 17 minutes, hit one of his two three-pointers and had a team-high +12. Continues to be a winning player.
Nerlens Noel:
First minutes of the season and it was about as advertised. The Bucks respected him as a roll man, he set effective screens, he also tried a couple of floaters that went poorly. He did hit a couple of free-throws though. Defensively he made a couple of really nice plays but was in a tough spot against Brook Lopez who could drag him from the paint and is far too big for Noel to effective tango with inside.
Killian Hayes:
0 points. Several solid defensive plays.
Hamidou Diallo:
There was… a lot of Diallo tonight? Only played 20 minutes, got up 9 shots with 3 trips to the line for 13 points on 12 equivalents. This game is a mostly positive night for Diallo who helped to buoy a nice night for the bench mob with his slashing, but I also can’t help but wonder who he thinks he is sometimes. He gets the ball and then just stands beyond the arc, like one time he got the ball, Isaiah Livers was wide open in the corner but Diallo just put his head down and dribbled a couple of times. Like yeah LeBron James or Steph Curry sometimes take a moment to collect themselves before opening a can of whoop-ass but you’re Hamidou Diallo so maybe just play.
General:
Disappointing to come so close. But still a positive game. We are witnessing the birth of Cade’s genuine stardom, Ivey continues to impress, things are okay.