Detroit Pistons: Javonte Green Breaks Down Clutch Shooting Vs. Celtics

During the offseason, the Detroit Pistons revamped the makeup of their squad with a focus towards building a more dangerous perimeter shooting team. Tobias Harris was exchanged in the starting lineup for John Collins, then the bench pairing of Caris LeVert and Marcus Sasser was passed up in favor of Isaiah Joe and Taurean Prince. 

In all, the Pistons added a trio of 40% shooters from three-point land to a squad that already won 60 games a year ago, and Detroit showed familiar shades of that top seed-securing group in their 121-113 win over the Boston Celtics on Opening Day.

”It stems from last year as well, just being how deep we are,” Pistons forward Javonte Green said. “It can be anybody on any night.”

On Tuesday, it was Green’s night to make an impactful difference and swing the game’s momentum back into the Pistons favor. 

Though Green was held out of the first half without logging a single minute, the veteran wing remained patient and resolute knowing that his opportunity could come at any time. Last season, Green was the only Detroit player to feature in all 82 regular season games as the team’s Ironman, so he’s grown accustomed to staying ready at a moment’s notice. 

In particular, Green’s moment was mid-way through the third quarter. At that point, the Pistons were fighting back into the game after Boston had built a healthy double-digit lead, but Green knew his influence could help bridge the gap. 

“We wasn’t playing as hard as we know we can play on the defensive end,” Green said. “I felt like it was too comfortable, so I feel like when we stepped it up, stepped the tone up, I felt like everything else would fall into place. It’s the way for our style of play… We wasn’t playing Detroit Basketball.”

In just 18 minutes, Green put up an efficient 19 points by going 5-for-8 from beyond the arc with both corner triples and shots from the wing at his disposal. At one point, Green helped the Pistons go on a 23-0 run to completely retake momentum in the Eastern Conference clash on Opening Day, which tied a franchise record.

Against the Celtics, Green was just one of six Detroit reserve players to enter the game, but he was inarguably the most impactful substitute for the Pistons on Tuesday afternoon. In terms of the team’s starting five, the trio of Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren and Duncan Robinson all crossed the 20-point threshold as well, but Green’s scoring effort off the bench was as valuable as any contribution against a Celtics team that’s projected to make some noise in the postseason. 

To secure the win, the Pistons also had to take the edge in the rebounding battle while putting together a 76-point second half to overwhelm the Celtics and successfully defend their home court of Little Caesars Arena on the first day of the NBA regular season. 

With a 1-0 start to the year, the Pistons have a couple days off before traveling down to Miami for an 8 pm contest against the Heat on Friday, Oct. 23.