The Pistons have gone 2-1 over the last week, improving their overall record to 7-12.
They ended their 7 game losing streak with an inspiring home win at the Palace over the high flying Atlanta Hawks to the score of 94-88. With the Pistons decimated by injuries to Hamilton, Prince, and Gordon, coach Kuester put out an ad hoc lineup of Rodney Stuckey, Chucky Atkins, Jonas Jerebko, Jason Maxiell, and Ben Wallace.
What’s more, it worked.
The Pistons outhustled and outworked the Hawks, who were at full strength. They outrebounded the Hawks 53-27 and outscored them in the paint 60-38. Atkins was a steady hand at point in his first start in two years. Stuckey and Will Bynum were the Pistons’ leaders on offense. Jerebko and Wallace both posted double-doubles. Maxiell and Kwame Brown contributed defense, points, and rebounds. Villanueva provided a spark off the bench as well, but left the game late in the fourth quarter. He was fouled on a drive to the basket and crashed into Ben Wallace’s hip, breaking his nose. But he stayed in the game (with his left nostril plugged) to hit two clutch free throws and keep the Pistons ahead of the Hawks, who were rallying. The Pistons finished the game off to gain an impressive and badly needed win at the expense of one of the East’s best teams.
Missing Villanueva, the Pistons went to Chicago to face a Bulls team reeling from a 5 game losing streak. Ben Gordon was activated, though, about 40 minutes before game time. Playing on a sore ankle, he started the game slowly, but heated up in the fourth quarter to finish with a game high 18 points for the Pistons. Chris Wilcox, Bynum, and Brown also provided quality contributions from the bench. Unfortunately, the patchwork Piston starting lineup that played inspired ball against Atlanta opened flat against a Bulls team that was also handicapped by injuries to key players like Kirk Hinrich and Tyrus Thomas. By the end of the first quarter, the Pistons were down 24-10 against a somewhat less sloppy Bulls team. The Pistons were unable to convert on a number of good looks at the basket and had many unforced turnovers, though the Bulls had their own scoring and turnover problems, too. The Pistons rallied, but fell short 92-85.
Detroit rallied, though, with a 105-96 victory in the Palace over the Milwaukee Bucks. They outrebounded the Bucks 46-30, outscored them 46-20 in the paint, and passed the ball for a season and team high 28 assists. They also held Bucks phenom rookie guard Brandon Jennings to 15 points on 6 of 20 shooting. Multiple players emerged again to bring about the Pistons’ victory, including Charlie Villanueva who returned from successful nose surgery to play as the newest member of the Pistons’ masked players club. Afterwards, Villanueva commented that it felt as if he had a hand on his face. As Hamilton can attest, one gets used to the mask with time.
We are now seeing the Pistons begin to move the ball and get the frontcourt involved in the offense without the presence of Hamilton and Prince. Stuckey, Gordon, and Bynum are developing nicely in the playmaking areas of their games.
Ben Wallace continues to be the Pistons’ MVP, playing like the Ben of old and re-establishing the Going to Work Pistons’ commitment to defense and rebounding with this new team. Over the last week, he has averaged 8.7 points and 13.7 rebounds.
Jonas Jerebko has emerged as one of the NBA’s best rookies with his hardnosed play and advanced offensive skillset thanks to two years of pro ball in Italy. Even when Tayhaun Prince returns, Jerebko will continue to receive significant minutes at both forward positions. He has averaged 9.3 points and 8 rebounds.
Stuckey averaged 19.7 points, 7 assists, and 5.7 rebounds over the last week. He has shot 21 for 50 from the field (42%) and 17 for 20 at the free throw line (85%). His point production, shooting percentage, and assists have steadily risen over the last few weeks as he has become more efficient offensively and comfortable at running the offense. In addition to his developing floor leadership, Stuckey has been playing excellent defense and rebounding well at his position. The Pistons future is looking bright with Stuckey (among others).
No definite timetable has been set for the return of Hamilton and Prince, but the Pistons’ camp is growing ever more helpful that both will come back within the next week or two.
The Pistons are now in position to make up ground in the race for a playoff seed from the #5-#8 spots on the rest of the East, which has not run away from them during their time of adversity. The Pistons at the moment have played 9 home games (32 left) and 10 road games (31 left). Many of the teams ahead of them in the East playoff hunt do not have significant leads in the standings despite enjoying favorable early season schedules with many home games.
As the Pistons embark on an easier stretch of their schedule at increasingly full strength and with the trials of the early season under their belts, they will be in position to undergo the sort of growth potential that all talented young teams experience.
When he is not contributing content here at Midwest Sports Fans, Boris is the administrator of Club Pistons, one of the best Detroit Pistons fan forums on the web.
