The Detroit Pistons started 2021 in an exciting and stressful way, with a 96-93 victory over the Boston Celtics. Detroit led the Celtics by 21 points, and they needed almost all of that to hold the Celtics.
The Pistons came out and punched the Celtics from the start. Detroit was without Blake Griffin (in the concussion protocol), but his ball, kick and defense momentum were firing on all cylinders earlier. Detroit forced seven twists in the first quarter, stealing the Celtics five times.
Jerami Grant beat Detroit with 10 points and the overall team hit 12 out of 24 in the first period, with the Pistons winning 15 at the end of one.
The second quarter was a 28-28 draw. The Celtics only started cooking when it was four minutes before the end of the break, with Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown forcing the action with their supreme game and penetration strategies. Marcus Smart did a bit of everything and was the best Celtics player at the break. Jeff Teague was also positive for the Celtics, scoring eight points from four shots, doing a solid job absorbing a few minutes normally going to the injured Kemba Walker.
The Celtics eliminated the Pistons with 33-24 in the third quarter, drawing six with 12 minutes to go. Jayson Tatum took over. Jaylen Brown took over. They got any picture they wanted and a lot of them in the painting. It was a clinic of offensive aggression and an excellent one-on-one game.
The Pistons’ attack really stopped and no one, with the exception of Saddiq Bey and his external shooting, had a lot going on.
The Celtics controlled the fourth quarter from the start with a few Tatum trebles, however, the Pistons did not retreat, tightening the defense and doing enough on Derrick Rose’s back and free throws by Bey and Mason Plumlee. Jaylen Brown had a decent appearance with a few seconds to tie the game, but he didn’t get it right.
Detroit was led by Jerami Grant with 24 points, although he needed 24 shots to get it, thanks to the referees’ lack of love in many paint runs and a general fight on the perimeter. Saddiq Bey, meanwhile, hit five of his eight points out of three and hit a clutch free throw at the end of his journey to 17 points. Isaiah Stewart had eight points and five rebounds and a lot of energy.
The Celtics were led by Tatum (28 points) and Brown (25).
Detroit is undefeated in 2021, folks.
Here are some additional thoughts on each piston tonight:
INITIALS
Killian Hayes
Hayes had some good streak leading the secondary range, but on the other hand he had some difficulties in defense and with his jump shot (both out of dribble and catch-and-shoot). He had at least three very decent looks by my count, but he was very wrong in some of them. I’m glad he’s not hesitating to wear these looks. They will fall for him soon.
Saddiq Bey
Bey had her second career start and did not disappoint. Bey defended well in the perimeter with good lateral movement and positioning.
In the first half, he had some questionable and overly anxious streak trying to get his man off the hook, but like many of us fans have said, you have to LOVE his confidence. He’s 21, but he’s just a newbie.
In the third quarter, Bey punched three treys when the rest of the team was very cold.
Josh Jackson
It was not Josh’s best move, but he made some impressive plays in the first half that helped Detroit get their big lead. Josh is so good and can hit his own shots almost anytime. The big key to progress is the selection of kicks, the security of the ball and the defensive consistency. Josh has a lot of room to grow and I expect great things from him.
Jerami Grant
Jerami played fantastically in the first half with 18 points in a combination of fast and strong strokes, as well as some pitches. The second half was a difficult kick (and he barely received a call to go his own way), but Grant played mostly in individual and team defense along the straight. Are we all starting to realize that this guy is really good?!?
Mason Plumlee
Mason quietly had a monster game in 30 minutes. He is experienced, a good defender and in the fourth period he hit an important free throw to put the good guys ahead by three, with five seconds left for the Celtics to wait for possession. Five of Plumlee’s 17 rebounds were offensive.
BANK
Delon Wright
A silent game at both ends for Delon. He made some good defensive plays, forcing his man to take hard shots – although on the other hand – if I remember correctly – his two turns were brutal.
Derrick Rose
Rose scored 11 points in the first half, although there were some out of control laps that make us scratch our heads vigorously. He landed a very difficult quick hit at the end, just below the arm of a Tatum who was following him. Rose finished with 17 in just 12 strokes. With Hayes struggling so far, Rose needs to be excellent so the team has a chance to win some games.
Isaiah Stewart
Stewart grabbed six strong boards in nine minutes of the first half and also scored two buckets with almost a third that he danced. He contributed another good nine-minute shift in the second. Isaiah seems to be taking minutes for the big shot with everything he has. His physicality is obvious and I am sure that the coaching staff will allow him to have more control with his total effort. When he starts shooting and jumping (he has this ability), be careful.
Svi Mykhailiuk
Svi made some tough triples (3 out of 6 in total) in 18 minutes. He has not yet fully found his pace and perhaps a place on this team. His footage is priceless and he just needs to do other things in a decent clip to keep getting minutes.
Sekou Doumbouya
Sekou looked good, but did not make money. His high point came in the fourth period in a heady pass on the counterattack for Stewart that ended with a three-point play with Big Stew winning on the free throw.
The Pistons will face the Celtics again on Sunday afternoon in Detroit.