Following the Pistons‘ 110-107 loss to the Hornets on Friday, star forward Blake Griffin called out the team for its lack of “fight,” as Chris McCoskey of The Detroit News relays.
“I think it’s really light in here after a win,” Griffin said. “To me, it seems like we love the victory but we don’t like the fight. You’re not going to win games like that.”
Head coach Dwane Casey had no problem with that harsh criticism from his star player, and in fact agreed with much of it, according to McCoskey, who notes that Casey said the Pistons weren’t putting enough effort into the “little things” necessary to win games.
“Paying attention to detail in offensive situations, paying attention to detail in defensive situations — Blake is exactly right,” Casey said. “These are the things we aren’t doing that can cost you a game. … Everybody remembers the last couple of plays. But you go through a game, you realize the things, the attention to detail, all the ‘I forgots,’ and ‘My bads,’ those add up.”
With those comments from their head coach and star player fresh in their minds, the Pistons had an impressive bounce-back showing at home on Sunday, blowing out the Spurs by 34 points.
Here’s more out of Detroit:
- Christian Wood scored a career-high 28 points on 11-of-14 shooting in just 22 minutes vs. San Antonio, and hopes to parlay performances like that one into more consistent production, writes Keith Langlois of Pistons.com. Wood, who is on a partially guaranteed contract, is aware that he’s essentially in an ongoing job audition. “All 30 teams are watching me, so every time I play I try to be relentless,” the young forward said on Sunday. “I try to come with energy and I try to give you everything I’ve got.”
- Vince Ellis of The Detroit Free Press takes an interesting and in-depth look into Sekou Doumbouya‘s background, the Pistons’ plan for developing the NBA’s youngest player, and when the rookie forward might be ready to consistently contribute at the NBA level.
- To keep tabs on all of our Pistons updates, be sure to check out their team page right here.
Is Griffin going bald?
Going going gone many years ago.
I wouldn’t call losing by three a “lack of fight”
No, but the Spurs losing to them by 34 definitely is.
Look out for Christian Wood
Pistons should have Nassir Little, Brandon Clarke or Matisse Thybulle over Sekou.
Over to have even tried to trade up for Cam Reddish
Yeah and they should have taken Dwyane Wade over Darko too. But you really can’t do anything about “woulda, coulda, shoulda” anymore.
Sekou is going to be so much better then all 3 of those guys. Sekou is 18 give him time to develope. He is learning a new language and living in a new country. And plus even though they are all rookies Brandon Clarke and Thybulle are 5 years older then him….. give Sekou a year or two and he will be one of the best players in that draft
It’s mosly projection with Doom-to-ya. He is long and has good feet, which will make things easier, but it was an indulgent pick by Detroit, who have a window with the Griffin & Drummond contracts that Say-ku won’t make in time (if ever).
Thybulle was more or less an upset pick, pursued by GMs Brand & Ainge, but not rated highly by ‘experts’. I said he was good for Boston’s #14 after seeing him in the 3-2 D, but Ainge caught flack for that rumor. Before the draft espn had him likely undrafted!
Come to the Mavs!
Griffin pushing and Wood scoring are just what the Pistons need… In addition to what ever else they lack… Griffin is the only bad-year guy so far.
As much as coach Casey stressed 3pt attempts, they are still only 20th in the NBA on attempts, but 2nd most accurate at 39%! (Toronto leads at 40% and they are winning with it, 7th in attempts, 15-4 versus 7-13 for Detroit. Also TOR is 5th in defense.)