Game Recap/Notes: Game#6. Pistons 91 - Nets 117. (1-5)
The Pistons stuck a bit within distance for much of the first 3 quarters and when KD got ejected it felt like maybe they could make it a game. This was wrong. Ended up a blowout.
Killian Hayes:
Only played 21 minutes for reasons that only Dwane Casey can know. Played some very good defense with 5 steals, and even tho the stat-line was unimpressive he had w drives where he blew-by defenders without a screen and attacked the hoop which is hugely encouraging. I'm still not sure Killian is the guy but he's looked far better in the last couple of games and if he shows more ability to take guys off the dribble he will make a believer out of me which would be wild because I didn’t like him at any point of the draft process.
Hamidou Diallo:
Got the start in place of Frank Jackson who had been terrible, and pretty much continued the trend that he's had all season. Diallo had 6 points on as many shots, including 2-3 from deep, but it just isn't clear what his role is or even what it should be. Even on a night like this where he hits a couple 3s, no one guards him and he passes up open looks. He's not a good enough ball handler to create much, and he isn't as good defensively as his athleticism suggests it should be. Still a worthwhile guy for a rebuilding team to take a look at but he just doesn't do much to move the needle.
Saddiq Bey:
Saddiq continues his early season trend of being totally baffling. The 3 ball still won't fall (now down to 31% on the season) but he's also showing real chops getting his own looks inside the arc (even if he is still mostly limited to being capable of doing so against bad defenders) and even put in 6 assists tonight! Just seems like a classic case of a nice player whos being asked to do too much on a bad team. Its hard to think of what more he should do but he currently stands out as one of the few guys who maybe can do more. Also KD did cook him but I felt like he was at least respectable in making KD not get too easy shots.
Jeremy Grant:
Remains a brutal start for Grant. Not worth going into how much it may be just poor start and how much may be real right now, but still a brutal start. Just 11 points on 15 shots, still not bringing it on defense like you'd like him to. Somehow Grant and the coaching staff need to get him figured out or we don't even need to argue about whether or not to trade him cause no one will want him.
Isaiah Stewart:
Another guy off to a tough start that continued in this one. Only played 18 minutes, struggled on both ends. The questions of how to get him going may be tougher than with Grant.
Kelly Olynyk:
Kelly is pretty much as advertised and was that tonight. Hit some shots, did some good offensive things, pissed off KD to the point that he caught an elbow, got shredded on defense. The usual.
Trey Lyles:
8 points on 4 shots to continue a hot start for Lyles. He remained nothing special but he was perfectly fine again. Been solid so far.
Corey Joseph:
Had 13 points on 6 shot equivalents which marks his best game of the season by far. It would be very nice if this is him snapping out of the slump because he's been brutal to watch.
Josh Jackson:
12 points on 13 equivalents. Made a couple nice drives and plays. Got a couple 3s to fall. Was mostly solid in an otherwise putrid night for the Pistons.
Frank Jackson:
6 points on 8 shots. Remains ice cole from deep. Hopefully coming off the bench can get him more comfortable.
General:
Pickett, Garza, Lee, and McGruder all got in for garbage time. Disappointing to be the get right game for the Nets especially after they lost KD but thats what happens on the second night of a back to back I guess. Pistons need to get Stew and Grant right.