Detroit Pistons: 3 takeaways from their double-digit win in Boston
1. The Pistons are bonafide contenders
The first stop on the road to being a real contender is respect. If you can’t command the respect of your opponents, then you’re not ready to be a contender. When teams see you on their schedule do they circle that date as an easy win? Do they give their stars the night off to give them a chance to rest during the long and grueling 82-game season? Or does a quiet panic/excitement set in? When teams start viewing you as a worthy opponent or measuring stick, you’re on your way.
The Pistons have racked up quality wins against Western Conference contenders, as well as Eastern Conference contenders. The Boston Celtics are the latest team to fall at the hands of Andre Drummond and the Detroit Pistons. After the loss, the Celtics took to their Twitter account to show respect to Detroit and its coaching staff.
Stevens gives credit to the @DetroitPistons: “They’re well coached, they run good stuff, I love what they’re doing.”
— Boston Celtics (@celtics) November 28, 2017
Right back at you. Good game tonight. https://t.co/FL7gnzJWxV
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) November 28, 2017
The Detroit Pistons have repeatedly done the unthinkable this season. They shut down the Splash Brothers in Oracle. They were able to beat the Warriors on the road with their smothering defense and impressive shooting.
They handed the Clippers their first loss of the season during the same road trip. They beat the Clippers when they were full strength before a myriad of injuries offered a plausible excuse for being defeated by the once “lowly” Pistons.
List of teams that have scored 60 points in a half vs. Boston this season:
— Keith Langlois (@Keith_Langlois) November 28, 2017
1. Pistons
That's it. That's the list.
Monday night, the Pistons unleashed a full offensive and defensive game plan to dismantle the Boston Celtics.
Midway through the fourth quarter, the Celtics decided to go to a plan that proved full-proof in the past. They started putting Andre Drummond on the line. He was a perfect from the line in the final three minutes of the game, shooting 4-for-4 from the charity stripe.
According to Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press, the Celtics intentionally fouled Drummond with 5:36 remaining in the game.
"“Stevens is one of the main proponents of the strategy and the Celtics were trying to steal a possession leading, 100-99. “Van Gundy can now leave Drummond on the floor where his defense is needed. “’We can run our pick-and-rolls and everything down the stretch,’ Van Gundy said. ‘It changes everything.’”"
Apparently, the Celtics were unaware Drummond’s proficiency from the line has vastly improved. Drummond is shooting 61.8 percent from the line this season.
Next: 2017-18 Week 7 NBA Power Rankings
The Detroit Pistons face the Phoenix Suns at the Little Caesars Arena in Detroit on Wednesday. They are 3.5 games behind the Boston Celtics for first place in the Eastern Conference after their win in Boston Monday night.