| Detroit Free Press
Top 10 NBA title contenders for 2021: Who they added, who they lost
Free Press’ Pistons editor Marlowe Alter looks at 10 NBA title contenders for the 2021 season, examining who they added and lost in the offseason.
Marlowe Alter, Detroit Free Press
While the game ended with another loss, there are positives to take away from the Detroit Pistons‘ performance on Monday.
With Blake Griffin and Derrick Rose on the bench due to rest, the Pistons fell to 0-3 with a 128-120 loss to the Hawks in Atlanta. But their were encouraging signs from the Pistons’ rookies and strong performances from the other veterans on the roster. The Pistons trailed by 24 with 7:43 to play in the fourth quarter, but used a 26-9 run to cut the deficit to five with 1:05 remaining in the game. It was a reverse of their first two games, in which they squandered late leads.
[ Why Tom Gores says it’s a ‘blessing’ to own prison telecom firm ]
The game will give head coach Dwane Casey much to consider before the Pistons host the Golden State Warriors on Tuesday.
Pistons embrace youth
Blake Griffin played 44 minutes in the double-overtime loss against the Cavaliers on Saturday. Derrick Rose played 33 minutes off the bench.
DNP REST: Why Blake Griffin, Derrick Rose sat out Pistons’ game vs. Hawks
To keep their two veterans fresh, the Pistons opted to rests Griffin and Rose against the Hawks on Monday. It opened the door for more minutes for the rookies and young players. Many of them capitalized on the opportunity.
With Griffin absent, Jerami Grant moved up to the power forward position, and Saddiq Bey and Josh Jackson were promoted to fill the starting wing positions. Jahlil Okafor also missed the game after injuring his ankle on Saturday, opening the door for Isaiah Stewart to make his NBA debut.
Stewart might’ve been the most impressive Pistons rookie on Monday. He had seven rebounds within his first 11 minutes of action. Five of those seven were on the offensive end. Stewart can jump three times before nearby defenders complete their first jump, and he tracks the ball off the rim well. His rebounding, at times, gave Detroit’s offense a dynamic it’s lacked through the early portion of the season.
A NICE FIT: How Pistons got ‘inside scoop’ on Isaiah Stewart
Bey also impressed. His first bucket was a 3-pointer toward the beginning of the first quarter. In a Carmelo Anthony-esque sequence, he leaned into his defender and pivoted a few times before letting it fly. He also hit a funky turnaround jumper in the second quarter, again displaying patience and using his feet to get a good angle on the shot.
Killian Hayes had the best game of his young career, finishing with 10 points, eight assists and two turnovers. He hit two 3-pointers — one stepback, one spot-up — and made good reads with the ball in his hands. He also continued to play hard on defense, against a tough matchup in Trae Young.
Jackson impresses
Jackson has been a highlight for the Pistons early in the season. He was a standout during preseason, and has shown that he can be a spark plug off of the bench.
He took advantage of his first career start, scoring 27 points. He was aggressive throughout the night, pushing the ball and attacking the rim. On a night where the Pistons lacked two of their best scorers, he showed that he can fill that void if needed.
Grant settling in as lead option
After leading the Pistons in scoring on Saturday, Grant was tied for Detroit’s top scorer once again on Monday. He finished with 27 points, six rebounds and a block. He’s doing the things he’s proven he’s good at — hitting 3s and finishing at the rim. But he’s also showed that when necessary, he can create for himself and others.
He hit a nifty push floater at the top of the key toward the beginning of the third quarter, and drove and kicked out to Svi Mykhailiuk for an open 3 later in the quarter. The 3 didn’t fall, but it’s a good sign if he can consistently punish defenses for collapsing on his drives.
Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @omarisankofa. The Free Press has started a new digital subscription model. Here’s how you can gain access to our most exclusive Pistons content. Read more on the Detroit Pistons and sign up for our Pistons newsletter.