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Game Thread 2020-21 Season | Game #18 | Pistons @ Cavs | January 27, 2021

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Wham with the Right Hand

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The 4-13 Pistons come to town. They are ranked 30th and last in The Athletic power poll, but the Cavs would be wrong to underestimate them. They hammered the Sixers 119-104 two nights ago, although Joel Embiid was out so that takes some blush off the rose. Their previous four games they lost by 4 (to Philly), by 1, by 6, and in OT. The Pistons have been going down, but not easily. They've played some decent basketball at least for the last five games.

The Cavs beat them in double OT in the second game of the season, one month ago. The Cavs have changed since that night, when Kevin Love played 38 minutes and there was no Allen or Prince. Blake Griffin had a line of 26/4/4 with 3 steals. He is being rested tonight so the Cavs catch a break there. However, Griffin is struggling through the season, averaging 12.3 ppg on 37.6% shooting. At 31 he's not the player he once was. Last year he only played 18 games and averaged 15.5 points. He's making $36.6 million this year with a player option for $39 million next year. Ouch.

Rookie Killean Hayes, who played 20 minutes in the first game, is out. So is Derrick Rose, who played 33 minutes and is second on the team in scoring. However, Jerami Grant, who leads the Pistons with 24.3 ppg is playing. He scored 28 against the Cavs in December along with 10 rebounds and 3 blocks.

The Cavs also need to be aware of former Cav Wayne Ellington, who is still rolling along at age 33. Ellington is averaging 19.0 ppg over the last five games and is shooing 51.9% on 3's this year. Nine of his ten shots Monday were 3's.

Ellington has stuck around for 11 years mainly on his ability to shoot a jump shot. He's played for 10 teams in 11 years, averaging 16 starts per season and 8.1 ppg. He's a hired gun who has made just under $45 million in his career coming off the bench. Nice work if you can get it.

SG Delon Wright scored 28 on Philly Monday and 19 in the first game against the Cavs. Even without Griffin and Rose the Pistons have some guys who can score, but they're losing 27 points and 11 rebounds between the two veterans and obviously that thins out their bench.

The Pistons rank 21st in scoring and 22nd in scoring defense. Offensively, they're 28th in fast break points so they don't get out and run much. That might change with younger legs replacing Rose, 33, and Griffin, 31.

The Pistons rank 25th in defensive rebounding percentage so Drummond and the other bigs will be able to get some offensive boards, especially with Griffin out. The Pistons rank 24th in fouls per defensive play so I expect Drummond and friends will be taking it to the rim.

In the first game Drummond was 7-for-21 as he was clearly trying too hard to show the Pistons they made a mistake in trading him. Hopefully he'll let the game come to him tonight. Mason Plumlee is the starting center and I expect Drummond to take it to him early and try to get him in foul trouble like he did against Gasol on Monday. Their backup center is a 19-year-old 6'8" rookie, Isaiah Stewart, the 16th pick.

The Pistons rank 27th in opponent's 2-point percentage so they probably don't defend the paint very well.
 
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Going to be a tough game I think. Feel like the Cavs might be in let down mode after working their asses off to stay close to the Lakers.

Pistons have had a really hard schedule and I think they are better than their record.

If Nance is out which I consider likely, Cavs are going to continue to struggle some on Defense.

This would be an excellent game for Garland to play well and make a big impact.
 
I'm ready to see Andre Drummond go after the Skiles assist record tonight!
I just don't want to see him put up 21 shots again unless he gets Plumlee out early with foul trouble and he can bully the rook.

Looking back at the game these teams played a month ago, Griffin, Rose, and Hayes combined for 42 points,13 rebounds, and 10 assists in 97 minutes. None of them will be in action tonight and the Pistons have not added any players that I'm aware of. Elllington and Stewart were DNP-coach's decision in that game despite it going to double OT.

The Cavs will be missing Nance, but he was scoreless in 25 minutes that night, and Exum, who only played 13 minutes out of 58 possible. Also Love who scored 15 points on 4-for-12 shooting. They've added Allen and Prince, of course. Sexton had 32 points that game and Garland had 21 with 12 assists as the Cavs' young guards dominated. They two of them combined to shoot 24-for-37 from the field. I'm wondering if 33-year-old Wayne Ellington will be able to keep up with either of them.
 
Two keys to their defense are Delon Wright and Mason Plumlee. Wright is a top flight man defender on the perimeter, and Plumlee covers up a lot of other messes. If Drummond can take away Plumlee's focus on help defense, the pressure rises on guys like Ellington and Bey.

Another key player to watch is Josh Jackson. He is a solid small forward defensively but his offense is touch and go. When he is having a good offensive game, the Pistons tend to play winning basketball.
 
I'm expecting Sexton to have a good game tonight...
 
As it stands right now, Detroit ranks fourth-worst in yielding a field goal percentage of 47.9%. This game should be fun to watch!
 
Now that betting is legal in Michigan, I put down a bet with the Cavs -2.5. C'mon, baby!!!
 
Blake out. He's not so good anymore but he couldn't miss the last time we played them.
 
Cedi starting at the 4, Prince off the bench.
 
Horrible pass.
 
Please let Garland run the fucking point. Nice find by Garland and nice make by Sexton.

I was laughed at when I said I wanted to see Sexton and Garland back together. They have some chemistry.
 

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