The Detroit Pistons have built a clear reputation so far this season– and it fits
When most of the basketball world has zigged into a spread out offensive structure with high-volume perimeter shooting, the Detroit Pistons have zagged as a tough, imposing group of hoopers that keep an old school mentality on the court.
Point guard Cade Cunningham may be the poster child of the Pistons right now, but 6-8 forward / center Isaiah Stewart is the identity, the heart and the soul of Detroit basketball at the moment. As the longest standing Piston, Beef Stew has helped usher Detroit into a new era of basketball, but it’s one that feels distinctly familiar.
With Stewart pacing the NBA in blocks per game, the paint is a dangerous place to visit for opposing offenses with Beef Stew and his band of shot-swatting brothers patrolling the post. The Pistons have a top five defense this season, and that’s one of the primary reasons Detroit holds a 20-5 record and is in first place of the Eastern Conference after taking down the Atlanta Hawks by a staggering 27-point margin on Friday night.
“We want to be known as nasty, scrappy, physical, tough, something that just wears on opponents that they don’t want to deal with for 48 minutes,” Stewart said after the big win. “Obviously, they know we are a physical team. They know that we are going to get gritty and nasty and dirty.”
In the blowout victory, Stewart had another impactful game coming off the bench with 17 points, five rebounds and five assists, but he truly shined in the second quarter. At that time, the Hawks and Pistons were exchanging blows and traded the lead back and forth several times, but Stewart took the court with Ron Holland, Caris LeVert and the rest of Detroit’s second unit to help create a bit of chaos and swing the momentum back in the Pistons’ direction.
With Stewart in tow, Holland has often served as the spark plug for the Pistons this season given his relentless energy, defensive instincts and the speed with which he gets out onto the fast break. Holland never lets off the gas pedal, and that’s why he’s able to make such a demonstrative impact even without an overload of minutes to work with.
And against the Hawks, Holland stuck to the script as an instant energy guy off the bench, posting 12 points, five rebounds, three assists and a steal during his brief cameo.
“He was awesome,” Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff said of Holland’s performance. “His energy, the intangibles that he brings, his willingness to just do whatever it takes to win basketball games. I’ve said it before, but it’s unique for a guy his age, right? A lot of guys his age come into the league searching about how they can fit in, how they can be a part of it, but Ron does all the small things that help you win and then he is able to get out in transition, run, finish, attack the paint, make the right play. He just plays with a great spirit that lifts everybody.”
Additionally, Holland was a perfect 6-for-6 from the free throw line in what was a clean performance across the board for the second-year forward.
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