After a spectacular game against the Magic on January 4, Jennings opened up to the assembled media, including MLive’s David Mayo, about his thoughts on seeing his name actively mentioned in several trade rumors. “The last (nine games) our defensive rating is 28th in the league, so it makes sense to put my best defensive player back out there”, Skiles said…. Skiles wasted little time pulling his starters out of the game in Saturday’s drubbing after the team managed just 32 points in the first half. Over the four years in Milwaukee, Jennings developed into a flashy, athletic player. The Pistons have plenty of depth at point guard with Jennings back and Blake behind him, but Van Gundy wants the wing depth so he can run meaningful practices on Friday and Monday.
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“We have had talks about this year, and he knows that I’m not looking at this – I’m not – as just a this-year thing”, Van Gundy said. Combined with his masterful stretch a year ago, establishing himself as a super sub and pushing the Pistons to their first playoff appearance for the first time this decade may go a long way toward allowing Jennings to cash in come July. Thomas had a team-high 15 and scored a season-best 38 while Jackson had seven drives and scored 23.
The Pistons started the second half listlessly and the Magic cut the deficit to 65-63 on an Oladipo 3-pointer at the 6:53 mark of the third quarter.
“He continuously pushed the pace, which might be something that most people probably wouldn’t look for with that injury that he came off of, ” Jackson said.
“He was zigzagging and getting to the paint and making plays for our teammates and he really was a floor general with that unit”.
“I’ve said all along: our plan right now is that Brandon can help us make a playoff push. But it’s still different in an National Basketball Association game and you’ve got to give him a lot of credit”.
However, the Pistons have enjoyed some success in recent meetings with Boston, alternating between SU wins and losses over their past eight, splitting a pair of games in Detroit last month, and posting a 105-97 win in their most recent visit to Boston last March as 5.5-point road underdogs.
In 18:29 of work, Jennings, roughly 11 months removed from a ruptured left Achilles, scored 17 points and dished out six assists in his fourth game back.
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“I think our fast breaks right now, I think guys are starting to understand where I want the ball, and where to just run the lane”, Jennings said. This would allow the Pistons to have a deeper rotation for their backcourt while getting rid of Jennings’ contract.
