Andre Drummond is bringing the 'Bad Boys' style of play back to Pistons
Is Drummond ‘Bad Boys’ bad? The jury is still out. While Drummond is playing better recently, less talk and less cheap shots on others would be preferred. Check this piece on SportingNews:
Pistons great Isaiah Thomas recently gave high praise to Drummond, telling Sporting News he would’ve fit in perfectly with the Bad Boys teams of the late 1980s and early ’90s.
"Everybody who knows me knows the way I play," said Drummond, who has led the Pistons to a 6-2 record in their last eight games. "I don't take any mess out there. I don’t play dirty, but I'm not here to be messed with. I respect everybody, but I got work to do."
One Team, Three Stats: Late-game issues for Wolves
Some stats to note prior to Friday’s tilt with the Timberwolves:
The Wolves are 2-8 in games that were within five points in the last five minutes of the fourth quarter.
That is the league's worst mark in close games. Even the Philadelphia 76ers (3-9) have been better.
The Wolves lost their first six games that were within five points in the last five minutes. They have won two of their last four, but their late-game problems have been holding them back.
The Wolves have the point differential (minus-1.5 points per game) of a team that's 9-12, not 6-15. That discrepancy between their "expected" wins (based on point differential) and their actual wins is the largest in the league. Thus far, the Wolves are the anti-Grizzlies (winners of close games, losers of blowouts).
Most of us can say that we don’t follow the T-Wolves much at all, so the numbers have no choice but to reign supreme:
The Wolves have been 13.4 points per 100 possessions better with Ricky Rubio off the floor than they've been with him on the floor.
If you've paid attention to the Wolves over the last five seasons, you would know that this is the most bizarre thing about the team's first six weeks. Over the years, Minnesota has generally been at its best with Rubio on the floor.
Today's NBA centers seem to be emulating Dirk's outside shooting prowess ... or at least trying
Some of us are waiting for nice, long stretches of Jon Leuer at the center spot, or is it just me?
Via the Dallas News:
Last season, Cousins began making 3-pointers regularly. This season, he's up to 4.8 attempts per game and making 38.3 percent of them.
And now Memphis' Marc Gasol is shooting and making 3s, as are big men LaMarcus Aldridge and Pau Gasol in San Antonio. Are we seeing the advent of the stretch-five?
"It's a reality," said Carlisle, noting that the Mavericks have worked with Powell on extending his shooting range, and that when Nowitzki is healthy he often plays center on offense.
"This started back in the '80s with [Seattle's] Jack Sikma. Jack was the first guy that I recall being a 6-11 center that stretched it out."
In the late '80s and early '90s, Detroit center Bill Laimbeer effectively stretched his shooting range to 3-point distance, though not as often as some of today's centers.
Indiana Pacers Rumors: NBA superstar Paul George heading to Detroit Pistons on a rumored deal?
Had a little too much surfing time on my hands. Though I don’t feel too guilty — it’s Friday!
From the one and only Headlines & Global News:
Now, NBA trade rumors are spreading that a proposed trade deal between the Pacers and Pistons that involves 5 players and future picks is now on the trading table waiting to be discussed. Trade scenario is suggesting as follows:
1. The Detroit Pistons will acquire Paul George and Monta Ellis from the Pacers;
2. The Indiana Pacers will then receive Tobias Harris, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Stanley Johnson plus Detroit's 2017 unprotected 1st, 2018 2nd and 2019 unprotected 1st draft picks
If that seems like insane garbage, it’s because it is. The original source is from the infamous nba-trade-rumors.com.
This is also probably a good time to read Seth Rosenthal’s amusing and essential take down of the fake NBA rumor mill.
Lorenzo Brown looking to score tons of points
Brown very recently signed a deal with Zhejiang Chouzhou of the Chinese Basketball League. Despite joining a 4-10 team, he’ll get a ton of shots and be in the running to score 30-plus points per game, which is essentially what the CBA is all about for foreign imports. I’ll keep you updated on Brown’s results.
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Prize for the fan in the comments who has the best trade proposal that doesn’t include Monta Ellis going to the Pistons — that’s really all I ask.