Opponent Scouting: Sacramento Kings (5-8)
The Pistons return to Detroit to host the struggling Kings
Tonight at 7:00pm EST the Pistons will be hosting the Sacramento Kings at the LCA. The Pistons are working on one night of rest after defeating the Toronto Raptors on Saturday. The Kings have had two nights of rest after losing to the Thunder.
The Them:
The Kings are a hard team to get a handle on. They have enough players that are good to be good but they are appear to be, yet again, stuck in mediocrity. They come into tonight’s game with the 9th best offense in the league and the 24th ranked defense.
De’Aron Fox is freakishly athletic and fast, but he still hasn’t put together enough tangible NBA skills to really move the needle offensively the way you want a max contract point-guard to do. Fox is putting up 20 and 6 per game but his efficiency stinks and generally is far weaker when you keep him out of transition. Harrison Barnes continues to plunk away as a under-the-radar performer. Scoring 21 points per game on high efficiency (66% TS% so far!!) and playing plus defense. Tyrese Haliburton continues to do everything well on both sides of the ball. Buddy Heild is one of the league’s premier shooters coming primarily off the bench. Richaun Holmes is athletic in the middle. Chimezie Metu started last game and I know basically nothing about him other than that he is a big.
Davion Mitchell plays hard on defense but is struggling to find a rhythm on offense. Tristan Thompson is here, so is Maurice Harkless.
This team seems to mostly struggle from having a terrible depth. Their primary starting lineup of Fox/Haliburton/Barnes/Harkless/Holmes is +4.9 points per 100 possessions, that’s also their highest minutes lineup. Their 3rd highest minutes lineup (Inserting Buddy Heild into the previous group) is +11 per 100 possessions.
The Kings are still dangerous. Their starters are good and they like to play fast. My bet would also be on them finding some combination that can mitigate the bench and be a solid team.
Matchups to watch:
Killian Hayes vs. Keeping it up: The Killian Hayes Belief-o-meter is ticking upwards. He’s been a terror on defense and is coming off of maybe his best offensive outing yet. His really finding his footing would be huge for the future of this franchise.
Pistons vs. Harrison Barnes: In theory, the Pistons have the big bodies to make life difficult for Barnes, but he has been on an absolute tear to start the season. He is also, comfortably, their best option in the half-court.
Pistons vs. Transition: The Pistons do not run very much, the Kings do. The Pistons youth should favor an up and down game, will be interesting.
Bey vs. Stringing together positive games: Finally found some shooting last night. He remains in a huge slump though and while 3-7 is nice, it’s not exactly the kool-aid man bursting through the wall. He’s got to have a string of successful games to really shake out of whatever has been ailing him.
Letting Josh Jackson run the bench: I’m pretty much on board with this. The Pistons bench has been a disaster all season, Jackson does some really bad stuff but he also can create shots from nothing. For the few minutes of pure bench-mob minutes just strap in and let him go for it.
Killian/Cade vs. DeAron Fox: Fox does remain an impact defender when he wants to be. Whoever is stuck with him will have their work cut out tonight.
So in conclusion…
Wink knowingly at your friends if:
Killian is still confidently handling the ball.
Jerami Grant is outplaying Harrison Barnes.
The Pistons really did unlock something with Beef Stew.
Run for the hills if:
The Pistons can’t throw the ball in the ocean while standing ankle-deep again.
The athleticism of Holmes gives the Pistons trouble.
Harrison Barnes is still unstoppable for some reason.
Opportunities for me to look stupid:
Killian Hayes has fully arrived.
Harrison Barnes scores 30.
DeAron Fox is totally outplayed by the Pistons young guards.
Pistons defense holds the Kings in check and win.
Pistons 104 - Kings 95.
What do you think? Can the Pistons win back to back? Can Killian keep it up?