The Pistons are 3-0 for the first time since winning their first four games in 2008-09.
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Chicago committed 20 turnovers, leading to 21 Pistons points. In my opinion, Cleveland will still emerge as divisional champs, but the Pistons could prove themselves to be a playoff team this year.
Both teams now have 2-0 records, with the Pistons being the more surprising of the two squads who share the top spot in the division.
The Pistons finished with 20 offensive rebounds to Chicago’s eight, and the Bulls turned the ball over 20 times.
Drummond, in his fourth season, capped the highlight week with 20 points and 20 rebounds on Friday night against the Chicago Bulls in the Pistons’ 98-94 overtime win.
Shooting guard Jimmy Butler tossed in 23 points and grabbed 11 rebounds and power forward Nikola Mirotic had 22 points for the Bulls (2-1). Look, I’m not saying that just because the Pistons beat two playoff-bound teams in their conference means that they are going to be a playoff team. Rose finished with only eight points against a tough Detroit defense. However, when a team pounds the offensive glass like Detroit has been doing, it gives the team extra chances to score – and to win. “They’ve got to do a better job”.
Seriously, Van Gundy believes that the offense will improve with a few tweaks here and there. “I was aiming at the wrong basket”, the PG said after the game. I think the promising thing is in the two wins we shot 38 percent and 40 percent. “We have to be more focused and keep working”. He also made a questionable choice at the end of the game when he chose to shoot a step-back jumper, which he airballed off the backboard, instead of driving into the lane.
So far this season, Drummond is averaging 18.7 points and 16.3 rebounds per game. Ersan Ilyasova has shown the ability to effectively play the Stretch 4 position, with a nice touch on his three-point shots.
Derrick Rose (left) and Joakim Noah of the Chicago Bulls talk to the media.
Yet, there’s a lot of basketball still to be played.
The Pistons face the Indiana Pacers on Tuesday night at The Palace before a six-game West Coast road trip, beginning Friday at Phoenix.
However, as a team that’s playing with noticeable passion, hustle, and defensive physicality, maybe Drummond said it best.
“It was risky”, Caldwell-Pope said, knowing that mistiming his leap could have sent Hood to the line for three foul shots.
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Drummond is playing what would be a career-high in minutes per game as well, averaging 37.3 per.
