Game 29: Toronto Raptors @ Detroit Pistons [Game Thread]
by Packey on Dec 23, 2009 5:53 PM EST
in Detroit Pistons Previews
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PrintI'll handle tonight's game preview while Matt, Mike, and Kevin settle into their new offices here at SB Nation. I know some of you DBB veterans are not happy with the platform (or maybe me) here, but I'm certain you will grow to be satisfied with the better commenting system and extra perks (FanPosts & FanShots). It's a change for all of us, but I sympathize with those not big on the change, so I'm going to follow the classic DBB format for tonight's preview.
Game tips at 7:30 pm ET
Toronto Raptors: 13-17 (4-12 Road)
Detroit Pistons: 11-17 (8-5 Home)
Oppo research
Unlike the Pistons, who have lost five in a row now, the Raptors have themselves a little winning streak going of... two. In those two wins, the kid that we all possess a basketball affinity for, Amir Johnson, was the leader in one way or another. In the win against New Jersey, he led the Raptors with 18 points. Against the Hornets, he pulled down a team-high 12 rebounds. Could it be that the 22-year old's talent is really starting to shine through? I can't say I'm happy about it's timing, as I'm sure Amir's going to look to have a big game against his former squad tonight. The good news for the Pistons is that Toronto has lost three straight road games and haven't won at the Palace since 2003 (11 tries). I've attached the Raptors stats after the jump.
The Drama:
"It's tough to have much drama when your trotting out the JV team for every game." I agree with Kevin on that one, but Amir Johnson's return to the Palace could create some drama, especially since he's been producing lately. No hard feelings from Amir, though:
"I wouldn't say it didn't work out," Johnson said. "We played great together. When we were out there, all the young guys, they'd call us the Zoo Crew. "I've just got an opportunity to play a bit more here."
Keys for Detroit
Get to the free throw line & make them for free: Pistons have attempted less than 20 free throws in four of the games during this five game losing streak. Once they get to the line, they need to knock them down. Missing five free throws in a row, like they did last game, is unacceptable. If it weren't for Ben Wallace (!!!) hitting two free throws last game they would have shot less than 50% as a team in the game. Puking pathetic.
Guard the perimeter: Easier said than done, since the Pistons aren't very good at contesting shots way out there. The Raptors come in shooting 6th in the NBA at 3-point field goals (6.6-18) almost exactly what the Pistons give up per game. The last time these two teams met (November 4th) the Raptors shot 24 threes and nailed 8, all of which were probably wide open looks.
Racking up 20-assists: I said it in the last game preview, that Detroit plays significantly better when they move the ball around and accumulate assist numbers. It's not so much the stat itself as it is an assurance that the Pistons are moving the ball around, creating better looks.
Question of the Game:
Are we going to win? It's time...
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In the last 10 games, the Pistons only hit the 100 points plateau 3 times. The Pistons are only averaging 87.6 ppg on this 5 game losing streak and when they were on their 5 game winning streak, they averaged 99.6 ppg.
The Raptors are an NBA best 10-0 when limiting opponents to under 100 ppg.
The Raptors are also 7-0 when limiting their opponents to under 40% shooting.
Shooting 38% like they did against the Bobcats won’t cut it. The Raptors are too offensively potent for us to keep up with them if we can’t make shots.
Free Amir!
Long-time DBB readers will appreciate that the Free Amir movement is alive and well in Toronto:
http://twitter.com/FreeAmir
Although, like Brian said, he’s actually free now, eh? Better late than never, and it couldn’t happen to a better guy.
(Also, stat widgets inside of a post? Yeah, I’m going to like this platform …)
lol
that shot is probably gonna be the highlight of the game for the pistons. hope they can build off it and mount some sort of a comeback though
yikes!
greetings to all of the string music folks!
was listening to the end of the third quarter on my way home from work, we got 50 points going into the fourth? this game sounds like its going really terribly. not quite the game the usher in this new era in dbb blogdom.
this dude on the postgame
this dude on the post game show on the ticket just called in and said that amir johnson is amare on a good day. did amir’s play tonight warrant such ridiculous hyperbole? (the answer will be no)
ridiculous conparison….
but even though Amir was, once again, consistent for the Raptors, he had a bit of an off-night tonight due to foul trouble, a couple of witch were fantom calls.
He’s been incredible for the Raptors this season. But Amare, he is not.
by Grassroots. on Dec 23, 2009 11:08 PM EST up reply actions
typos, sorry….
that’s “a couple of WHICH were PHANTOM” calls" lol
by Grassroots. on Dec 23, 2009 11:09 PM EST up reply actions
Ugh
Man, that was rough. I was at the game and it was bad. Bad bad bad.
How do you only score 64 points against the league’s worst defensive team?
kinda makes me glad that I have to work alot during the holidays.
but at the same time I really like watching the Pistons.
Not so much with the losing though.
My Music: Now on last.fm!!
My Blog: Inside A Head
How dare the Toronto Craptors ruin the DBBSB inaugural debut merger game night.
Don’t get used to beating DET, CB4 is so ghost after this season.
its a blessing in disguise
maybe after next time the rap’s are in the lottery they can draft a big man who doesnt have a fucking juicebox for a heart.
by dandresden on Dec 24, 2009 12:49 AM EST up reply actions 1 recs
strange
The new dbb is only working on my phone, when I try to get to the site from my comp it doesn’t work :(
by Gabe F-B on Dec 24, 2009 12:13 AM EST via mobile reply actions
It blows my mind that this Raptors team gave up 146 points to the Hawks….but also held the Pistons to 64 points tonight. That’s gotta be a record.
Raptos Defense
Its gotten better as of late.;
1. Weems has replaced Wright in the rotation. Wright is terrible
2. Jack is starting and Banks is backing him up since Calderon got injured. The current PG rotation is far better defensively than when Calderon starts and plays 30 + minutes. Calderon has to be the worst defensive guard in the NBA.
3. Johnson has gotten better at being able to consistentely get his rotation minutes, which elimiates the need for using Rasho except on rare occasions.
4. Bargnani’s defense has picked up of late. How long that will last, we shall see.
5. DeRozan while still a rookie is improving defensively as the year goes on
6. 9 new guys at the beginning of the year and a new defensive coach. The players now seem to be understanding and executing their team defensive responsibiliies betters
7. Johnson’s hustle and energy and starting to be contagious.
8. The Raptors schedule has started to lighten up considerably. Lots of travel and many back to backs with few days off will affect the defense.
Johnson
He has a long way to go to be more than a younger version of the Birdman or Amundsen?
The Raptors as you folks noticed trust him with the ball on offense and actually pass it to him. They are also working with him on his offensive game.
He has added an up fake and post up spin move to his offensive toolbox.
However, he still fouls way too much at this point. Most nights he manages to get his regular rotaton minutes in which of late have been between 17 and 22 though on some nights the fouls still trip him up. He needs to reduce his fouls per 36 minutes from around 6.9 down to something closer to 5 if he is ever going to become a starter in the league.
i used to post a lot last year about why the pistons wouldn't use amir in the offensive post. particularly every time kwame bludgeoned to the hoop. a.i.i was the only guy who would pass to amir. strange.
by andyfrombrooklyn on Dec 24, 2009 8:40 AM EST up reply actions
Not Sure Why
But more importantly, they never coached him in offense the whole time he was with the Pistons. In fact according to Stuckey and Afflalo Saunders never coached him at all while Saunders was coach. Johnson was just left on his own to figure things out.
I think too many veterans and egos. Also, I think that Maxiell was a lot more popular with the guys like Rip, Prince etc. To my understanding only Sheed really helped out Amir. When he left the writing was on the wall for Amir, I am glad that Dumars read it.
The fact of the matter is, the Raptors CAN play D, they’re just WILDLY inconsistent and take nights off. They’ve been a lot better lately, unfortunately it showed against us. SMH.
Bargnani is earning that big contract too. I’ve been keeping tabs on the guy this season) and he is really playing much more aggressive on both ends of the floor. Doesn’t always get to the right spot defensively but DAMN, he’s really worked on his post game and with that outside shot, you gotta get up on him, and he can really drive the ball. I also watched the recap video on NBA.com tonight and like they said on the video, he’s really rounding into form this year.
by Grassroots. on Dec 24, 2009 12:48 AM EST up reply actions
i was mad at first
watching this game. but then i just started laughing uncontrollably. trade the team now!
by MaxiellEatsLittleOnes on Dec 24, 2009 7:34 AM EST reply actions
All the hurt players returning soon?
First, I guess I’ll see if this works for me. Second, yeah, that was just awful, especially on the offensive end.
But George and Greg said at least Ben G. and Rip would be back on Sunday, and maybe Tay too. Thank whatever deity you like.
Is Amir really free?
Haven’t done a lot of statistical analysis on the guy since there just isn’t much to do, and didn’t get a chance to watch him play last night (had the game all DVR’d and ready to go when my buddy texted me telling me to not even bother)
Now we can discuss the advantages/disadvantages of using a players “per 36 minute stats” but if we look at this then Amir is actually fouling at a higher rate, blocking at a lower rate, turning the ball over at a higher rate, and shooting worse from the free throw line than last year. While his points and rebounding rate have gone up to where he’d be “averaging a double double” if he played 36 minutes a game, he was only a bucket and a rebound away from this last year.
I know we always talk about the little things that Amir does and I wish I had watched the game just to get a sense for how he effected the Pistons offensive flow, but its not like he’s having a break out year by any means.
Jonas Jerebko once killed a charging female rhinoceros in heat protecting its young with nothing more than a hook shot.
One Other Comment
Triano has been playing Johnson his regular rotation minutes no matter whom the opponent is. The last time the Raptors played the Magic, Johnson guarded Superman. He didn’t do very well but that is too be expected at this point. Besides not a lot of people do well guarding Howard unless they are big and strong like Perkins, who does a pretty good job of it.
However, Johnson has defended pretty well against some of the other better players in the league. HIs Offense – Defense rating is 120 – 110 which is basically tied with Bosh 121 – 111 for the best on the Raptors. (basketballreference.com)
Amir might not yet be free put the Governor has issued him a pardon and he definitely out of jail.
Slow Adjustment
Johnson started very slow this year.
A lot of it had to do with being unsure about himself after being traded twice in a month this last summer.
When he first started to get minutes the Raptors were following the Pistons mentality of not passing him the ball on offense and Johnson had to get his points like in Detroit; by picking up the garbage.
Since the Raptors finished their long road trip several weeks ago and have had time to practice Johnson has slowly been worked into the offense. Verfy slowly but for sure in the right direction.
The coahces are working with him after practice on his offense, something that the Pistons coaches never did. It is starting to show positively. He now gets the ball passed to him and it is at an increasing level as the games go on.
The results are evident in his production. His Usage% and PER are up about 15% from last year and slowing climbing.
Yes he still fouls a lot, however he has played in the games and is averaging a career high in minutes. More importantly now he gets in his alloted game rotation minutes of between 17 and 22 most of the time.
Yes he still needs to reduce his foul rate but for now it is not hindering him from gettting his alloted game rotation minutes.
The Real Piston Team Starting Soon.
Can anyone honestly say that playing Jarebko, Maxiell and Atkins rather than Rip, the other Gordon (Eric Gordon is the #1 Gordon in the NBA – LOL. Griffin was just cleared for basketball contract drills – Go Clips) and Prince.
When those 3 return the Pistons will be a lot better team. Playoffs would not surprise me if they can stay basically healthy the rest of the year.
No, but one could possibly make the argument that they’re tougher and more fun to watch, especially in a losing effort.
by Roll The Dyess on Dec 24, 2009 10:39 AM EST up reply actions
Who Said That?
You are correct with Jarebko, Maxiell and Atkins playing serious minutes rather than Prince, Rip and BG the Pistons are not very good and certainly a lot less fun to watch.
It is nice to see Maxiell crash the glass, dunk it and occasionally make one is patented turn around jump shots.
Jarebko is a good player and has shown some really good action around the glass both on offense and defense.
Big Ben is always fun to watch and Stuckey has his moments
But overall, you are correct this Pistons team without Prince, Rip and BG is not very fun to watch.
Fun to watch
I think it will be more fun to see some of the current starters come off the bench to give us spark.
hey all
Glad to be here in the new era of DBB. I like the commenting features and the embedded stat widgets. Like everyone else, I miss the old look of DBB.
Looks like I picked the right game to miss …
Also looks like the first game thread was sparsely attended … not much by the way of recap in the blogosphere anywhere.
Were we as bad as the box score suggests?
We were worse. They offensive rebounds and second chance points made the score a lot closer than it should have been.
by Grassroots. on Dec 24, 2009 12:50 PM EST up reply actions
ugh
Ugly site, ugly game. And to top it off, there was already a Drew, so I am now “OtherDrew”. Oh well. The times, they change.
I tried to pop into the game thread last night, but...
Every time I tried www.detroitbadboys.com or www.motownstringmusic.com, it took me to the old DBB site…might have been why the game thread was slow, some folks might not have been able to find their way in…
Official BYB Juju Consultant...now accepting rally creature applications!
*acts stupid*
Great, I already violated the only rule.
by Terrence J. Lynch on Dec 24, 2009 1:33 PM EST reply actions
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