NBA Power Rankings Week 1: Lakers woes and other first impressions

LOS ANGELES, CA - OCTOBER 12: LeBron James #6 and Russell Westbrook #0 of the Los Angeles Lakers on the basketball court together during the second half of a preseason basketball game against the Golden State Warriors at Staples Center on October 12, 2021 in Los Angeles, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Kevork Djansezian/Getty Images) /

4 of 31

Jerami Grant, Detroit Pistons. Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images /

64. . 0-2. Previous: 28th. Detroit Pistons. 28. team

Last Week: (L) to Chicago, (L) to Chicago

It’s hard to determine exactly how good the Detroit Pistons are vs the rest of the league given that the NBA scheduled them for two consecutive games against the Chicago Bulls. The Pistons have also had to play without Cade Cunningham, the No. 1 overall pick, providing even less information about what a full-strength Detroit team looks like vs the entire league.

What we do have is how they looked against the Bulls, and the answer is “not very good.” No one on the team has been able to hit a shot, as Detroit ranks 30th in 3-point percentage at just 19.6 percent, and 27th in the league in overall field goal percentage. They won’t shoot this poorly the rest of the year, but it’s an inauspicious start for Motor City.

First Impression: Killian Hayes looks terrible. This isn’t meant to go after Hayes, the No. 7 overall pick in the 2020 NBA Draft. He is young, and much of his rookie season was devoted to rehabbing an injury rather than developing his game. Even so, the Pistons have shown their commitment to him by starting him in both games thus far.

Hayes has made one basket in two games, is shooting 9.1 percent (not a typo) from the field, and has five total assists against three total turnovers. Defensively he may as well not even be there are the Bulls’ host of guards paraded right past him. Cade Cunningham is this team’s lead ball-handler of the future, and he may not be getting any support in that area from Hayes.