this post was submitted on 18 Nov 2023
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What’s the reason for the Pistons starting off so slow? They had higher expectations coming into this season with Cade coming back, but they seem to have gone back to their old ways.

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[–] jrzalman@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

We are just getting started honestly. This team has barely any NBA caliber talent and Cade hasn't even gotten hurt yet. There's nobody out there we should beat.

Can't wait to pick fifth again.

[–] historical_regret2@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Ok, I don’t blame anyone for not watching Detroit, but here’s the honest take:

  1. They started off 2-1 and only lost the third game by one basket. They looked surprisingly solid. Then Duren got hurt.

I need to emphasize this: Duren, who was looking like their best player, rolled his ankle. He has been in and out of the lineup, but he’s been a shadow of himself when playing.

  1. The lack of Duren hits Cade hard. Cade has always played much better when he has an athletic roll/lob big to play off of in p&r. Duren made defenses have to respect the roll and it opened things up for Cade. Without that, and with Hayes and Ausar on the wings, Cade has no room to breathe.

  2. Cade has played poorly. He’s made dumb decisions. He’s also trying to do everything and Monty is playing him essentially all game.

  3. Monty has inexplicably not only benched Ivey, but moved him to fourth guard and - until today’s second half - has relegated him to fifth option on offense. For context: Ivey’s per 36 and efficiency numbers are very good, except for turnovers. He’s arguably their best player so far, on a per 36 basis. But he’s getting jerked around in minutes and role. It’s fucked up.

  4. All of the vets who were supposed to support the youngsters have missed some or all of the season. Bojan, Monte Morris, Burks, Livers. These are all rotation guys and/or starters. Only Burks has played, and he’s missed time too.

  5. They’ve been getting CRUSHED in ft disparity. I haven’t checked recently but I think they were literally around 50% of their opponents’ ft attempts a while back. Part of this is that they do foul a bit more. A bigger part is that they don’t have a single foul merchant on the team - Cade has a comically bad whistle. Burks can merchant a bit, but he’s a backup.

All in all: they’re not a good team but if they had the injured half of their team playing, they wouldn’t be nearly this bad. I’d put a LOT of money on the narrative around Cade being a lot different if he had Duren and Bojan to pass to instead of Wiseman (third string) and Stanley Umude (no offense to him).

[–] cuttthroathitta@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Welp imma just wait for a top 3 pick again

[–] LoudKingCrow@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

A very young team with a bunch of injured veterans. Not to mention a coach that has way more important stuff going on in his personal life so he is most likely not focused on his job.

[–] bpx28@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

there really is nothing good about them. cade is a bust

[–] Torkzilla@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago (2 children)

The Pistons haven’t won a playoff game in 15 seasons. I thought for sure after the last few years they would have accumulated OKC-level talent via the draft but they just cannot hit on a single pick. The team has been so poorly managed for so long it’s embarrassing.

[–] Batmans-penis@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Yeah, I thought Weaver was our Savior. Turns out he just likes collecting useless bigs and to always have an abundance of guards on hand.

I don't know what his vision is, but it's the wrong Era for it.

[–] PM-ME-UR-B00BYS@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

I miss when the Pistons were good. Better eras of basketball.

[–] 2020IsANightmare@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

I mean....they are the Pistons? They suck.

It takes years of dedication to be that bad.

Cunningham has a 10.2 PER so far this season.

Teams tank. Teams get unlucky injuries. Teams get LeBron wanting to go to Miami.

There's various reasons why teams can be really bad.

But, for it to happen year after year after year after year?!? It's an organizational/front office issue.

[–] ChancIas@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Need to surround Cade with good shooters to open the floor for him and solid paint bigs to free him up when he gets downhill bagley and wiseman are not it. And frankly I don’t think Troy weaver is the gm the pistons need

[–] GunnerRocket@alien.top 1 points 11 months ago

Don't have Stephen Silas anywhere near your team.