Opponent Scouting: Indiana Pacers (0-2)
Tonight at 7:00pm EST the Detroit Pistons stay on the road to face the Indiana Pacers. Both teams are on the second night of a back-to-back with the Pacers losing a close game against the Spurs while the Pistons got blown out by the Knicks.
The Them:
The Pacers figure to be one of the bottom feeders on the NBA this season after starting to trade away players for future assets last season and this Summer. That said, the team is not completely devoid of talent.
Tyrese Haliburton is here from Sacramento as a result of the Sabonis trade, he’s an excellent all-around player who can score and facilitate. Time will tell if he can be a proper offensive engine but even if he does end up falling short of that, he is an excellent player. Fellow former King Buddy Hield is here as well and he’s still a dangerous shooter who can score in bunches. Rookie Benedict Mathurin is talented and can shoot, and Chris Duarte is competent. After that, things get ugly fast. They started Terry Taylor and Jalen Smith last night. The corpse of James Johnson comes off the bench and he’s still got some positional versatility but at 35 he’s lost the athleticism that made him a valuable player once upon a time. Aaron Nesmith is trying to revive his career, theoretically, he’s a good shooter. TJ McConnell is a pest defending every foot of the court, and Isaiah Jackson is a wing big who doesn’t really shoot well. Maybe the easier way to say this is that I spend a pretty inordinate amount of time watching NBA basketball and there are a few of these guys that I was completely unfamiliar with before the season.
The top-level guys of Haliburton, Hield, and Mathurin have some ability to turn a game or two this year, but especially with Myles Turner injured, there is nothing beyond them. The depth is pitiful and even with a couple of decent players, they lack a true #1 offensively. This team may compete for the worst record in basketball this season.
Matchups to watch:
Energy: Both teams played last night. There is a chance that one team comes out with more fire and puts the game away early.
Pistons vs. Bouncing back: The Pacers lost a close game, and the Pistons got blown out. This Pacers team is one of the few that the Pistons are probably straight-up better than so it is important to come back strong tonight.
Cade vs scoring efficiently: The eye test is fine for Cade through two games, but he does need to get his points in fewer shots. It’s a tough ask because the Pistons ask him to take some difficult shots, but if he wants to be a superstar it’s part of the deal.
Ivey vs. Excellent passing?? My biggest concern with Jaden Ivey was that he may look totally inept as a passer, thru two games it has not only not been a weakness but I would go so far as to say he’s looked really good as a facilitator. This is a trend worth keeping a close eye on.
Isaiah Stewart vs. Hitting shots: No one defends him. If he is going to make it to his second contract as a rotational player he can’t be this detrimental to the offense. he has shot plenty of threes, but they need to fall.
Pistons vs. Actually trying defensively: Last night was brutal. Hopefully fewer wide-open layups for the Pacers.
Cade vs Haliburton: Each team’s best player should spend a decent amount of the night going against each other, that is always fun. If Cade is the best player on the floor there is little chance the Pacers can win.
Pistons bench vs. Eternal sadness: Last game was brutal. The Pacers may sport the only bench in the NBA that is worse than the current, injured, version of the Pistons’ bench. It must improve.
Jalen Duren vs. having a short memory: Last night was one to forget, now coming into a game where the opponent is not exactly stacked on the front line is a great chance for him to bounce back with a positive outing.
So in conclusion…
Run for the hills if:
The Pistons have dead legs and the Pacers don’t
Buddy Hield starts hitting shots
Pistons players are doing more pointing than defending
Wink knowingly at your friends if:
Ivey is torching everyone put in front of him
Duren smash
The bench have positive +/-s
Opportunities for me to look stupid:
The Pistons get out to a fast start.
Jaden Ivey and the forwards score a lot. Cade is reserved.
The Pacers look dead and never really get into the game.
The Pistons ride a fire from getting blown out and tired legs from the Pacers to a comfortable victory.
Pistons 115 - Pacers 98
What do you think? Can the Pistons bounce back? Who will lead the Pistons in scoring?