Observations: Yeoman efforts by Ellington, Plumlee take sting out of latest Pistons’ loss

Detroit News

Rod Beard
 
| The Detroit News

The Pistons continued their up-and-down play this season. They had a good first half against the Miami Heat, but couldn’t hold on to a 19-point lead from the first quarter, when their reserve unit let the lead get away in a 113-107 loss on Monday night.

It was a disappointing turnaround after the Pistons had their best win of the season on Saturday against the Heat. Coach Dwane Casey cited the defensive lapses as the culprit.

Here are some takeaways from Monday’s loss:

►Plumlee explosion: Mason Plumlee has mostly been tasked with just being a good rebounder and a secondary option on offense when everything else breaks down. He started Monday’s game with a flourish, scoring six points in the first four minutes and fueling the Pistons’ hot start. He was active on the boards and looking for his shot against a formidable defender in the Heat’s Bam Adebayo.

Plumlee’s season high in points was 14 and he was especially effective on the offensive glass, grabbing five in the first half. It seems that any scoring help that Plumlee can provide is just gravy to what he can do in other areas.

►Ellington starts: Since Josh Jackson’s injury, Wayne Ellington has become a fixture in the starting lineup. It was a small sample size of four games, but Ellington showed that he can fit well with the first group, averaging 9.8 points and shooting 47% on 3-pointers in four games, in about 22 minutes per game. The starters function well with a knock-down 3-point shooter and Ellington fits the bill. He started with 12 points in the first half on Monday, with three 3-pointers and three free throws to help spark the early lead. He has some familiarity with the Heat, after spending two-plus seasons there before being traded to the Pistons midway through the 2018-19 season. Coach Dwane Casey has commented on the value of Ellington’s professionalism and being able to jump into a starting role or playing heavy minutes after not playing in several games. He’s shown it a few times this season, after not playing in five of the first six games.

►Jackson find: Josh Jackson seemed to find his groove again, after a couple of games out because of an ankle sprain and a couple more games coming off the bench. He didn’t seem to have a good rhythm and his timing was off, with many of his jump shots way off the mark. He looked to get locked in a little late in Saturday’s game, but seemed to really find his mark, with a couple of shots falling for him and he showed a look of relief. On Monday, that carried over to the second quarter, with nine quick points in the second quarter in the first four-plus minutes. Playing with the second group, Jackson is a big help on the defensive end, but when he’s scoring at that level, he can work his way back to the starting lineup.

►Shorthanded Heat: The Heat were without three key pieces, with Jimmy Butler and Avery Bradley (health and safety protocol) and Tyler Herro (neck spasms) missing the game. They moved Goran Dragic into the starting lineup and that worked out very well, as Dragic added a big offensive spark, with 19 points through the first three quarters. That veteran presence proved valuable as he was able to penetrate and dish and to get to the rim and finish as well. It provided a nice piece to add to the starting group, which withered down the stretch against the Pistons on Saturday. 

Rod.Beard@detroitnews.com

Twitter: @detnewsRodBeard

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