Pistons Basketball Is BACK! | Pistons/Grizzlies Postgame Recap!
Total Smith here. Make sure y’all subscribe to my boy Downtown Deuce ASAP. Come on, man. All the dirty work all dog. I’mma dive on the floor. Go try to block every shot and I’m going to be physical with you the whole game. You know Ste going to be physical with you. You think of the Pistons. You think just hard work and just pretty basketball. That’s his identity you got to have when you put on that jersey. I’m not your average king. Not a good dog. A bad boy for life. I set the tone. Don’t care about no tick. Let it be known. I get my respect. Come in the lane and see. I don’t love you. If you retaliate, that’s on you. Oh, talking. I hear your shing. You must tell the dog mess around. [Music] Don’t mess around right now. [Music] When you’re with somebody you better [Music] for somebody cuz I’m [Applause] going to mess will find out. [Music] What up though everybody? Welcome back to another episode of the Downtown Deuce show. Yes, we are back with the Piston postgame recaps. As you guys can all see, I’m joined by the lovely Sarah Boss. Sarah, how are we feeling? Um, I feel amazing. Thanks for having me. Uh what a great way to start off the 2526 season. I feel great right now, man. Unofficial win, right? Exactly. So, for those who missed the announcement last week, um Sarah will be officially joining me postgame this season for postgame recaps. She is going to be bringing her perspective and her takes on the games as we embark on another year of Pitches basketball. And we are really excited to have her on the squad. So, everybody show her some love in the comments. Drop some fire emojis. drop some bosses in the in the chat for Sarah. Um, anything you want to say, Sarah? Um, the Pistons fans out there before we kick off game one. Uh, I mean, we have the greatest fan base ever and I know that this season, the the team last year, they emphasized how great our fans were and we’re only getting bigger and better and I’m just so excited. So, uh, I definitely want to hear all your takes. Uh, throw some comments up there. Uh, we want to know how you guys felt about the first preseason game, too. The first look at our squad. Absolutely. And I see y’all are deep in the chat already with the comments. So, as expected after a good win, right? Y’all usually show up and show out as you guys always do. So, I see you guys in the chat. Carl, what’s going on, my brother? By the way, for anybody who does not know, Carl Collins is the production behind everything that I do with my Pistons music, the opening anthem. You guys saw that as Carl. And we are working on something new for you guys this year. So, stay tuned for that. Carl is a beast at what he does. I call him the Steven Spielberg of the sports games. He gets it done for sure. All right, so like I mentioned guys, we are back. We are officially in full swing. Piston basketball is still back. And I just want to say that I’m looking forward to breaking down the season with all of you guys. Um, we just crossed 8,000 subscribers on YouTube. And I want to say thank you to everybody who has been with me shooting in the gym. Y’all have been down in the trenches with me. So, I truly appreciate you guys. Let’s get to 10K by the end of the year. Let’s do it. So, I’ll be hosting a giveaway once we hit 10K. So, make sure you guys hit that subscribe button for a chance to win. All right. Of course, now before we even get into it, Sarah, we gotta caution. We gotta caution. This is just preseason. Yeah, it’s just preseason play, so we can’t overreact either way, right? First half, we can’t overreact. Second half, we can’t overreact. But, we talked about it before. A lot of these games are going to be a continuation of training camp in the sense that these guys are they’re all trying to get on the same page, build that chemistry, build that camaraderie, especially the new guys on this roster. But at least now they get to after scrimmaging and playing against each other in practice, they get to play some real competition and they did tonight. So now is the time to iron those kinks out, right? Build that chemistry, reinforce who they are, their identity, and consistently get back to what this team does best. It’s all about preparation for the regular season. That’s what matters when the record resets and these games mean something. So, now that we got that out the way, on to tonight’s game. The Pistons faced off in their first preseason action tonight against the Memphis Grizzlies and they come out with the win 128 to 112. Jaylen Dur did not play tonight. He had hamstring tightness. I don’t think it’s anything serious. And still started along with Cade Jaden Assar and Tobias Harris. And the Grizzlies were without Jarant and Triple J. They did not suit up tonight. So Sarah, I will let you kick it off before we get into the box scores and the details of this game. You guys know we do the initial thoughts first. So Sarah, what were your initial thoughts from this game? Uh well, we started off there definitely, you could see that the rust was coming off. We really had to shake it off. Um just being in the offseason, not playing together yet. Uh but just like you said, don’t overreact. We are a team that’s not I mean, we know slow starts. We we’ve been there. It’s it’s something that’s semi- common with our team, I would say. So, I didn’t panic. Uh they got it together. They finished off super strong. We saw everyone. I’m so glad that we got to see our starters, you know, when when when JB pulled them like what, four minutes into the game, I was like, “Oh, is that it?” You know, but then they came back, finished off the half super strong, then they gave it to our bench, then our deep bench, and it was just it was great. like like you said, no overreaction either way, but yeah, uh they did what I expected them to do and they they came back and and won after that rough first quarter. Yeah, it was rough. It was rough to start. I do have a few notes here as far as my initial thoughts. I’m going to try to keep them brief so we can get into the individual uh box scores and all that, but let’s be real, guys. First quarter, Pistons were playing. They were playing around straight up. They were just playing. They were just sleepwalking through the first quarter and they were I was it was frustrating to watch. It looked like they were just It definitely looked like the first game of preseason. I’ll say that much. They just looked completely out of sync on both ends. Even somewhat disinterested a little bit to start this game. Offensively, they had six turnovers in the first six minutes, right? And there so many things that happened that were so just weird and uncharacteristic, but that’s what happens when you first get back on the court. You had things like Duncan Robinson airballing. Um Assar has some turnovers. Ron was shuffling his feet off the dribble. Caris had a turnover out of the pick and roll with Paul Reed. He wasn’t ready for the pass. Chaz Laneir missing both free throws. Like a lot of things happened early in this game where it’s just like, huh? Um, but they were just completely out of sync. And it’s funny because the Grizzlies were playing how the Pistons want to play early, right? Defense to offense, creating turnovers and getting out of transition. That’s exactly what happened with this game to start. And the Pistons at one point didn’t even have enough players in the floor. They had four guys on the court, I believe, and got a tech for it. So, they were just a little bit discombobulated. It’s how we thought they would look. Like, not quite to the level that we saw. But I we talked about this last week. Um I said don’t be surprised if during preseason they look sloppy, right? Turnovers, careless turnovers, defensive breakdowns. We talked about that, Sarah, just last week. And we got a lot of that in this game, especially early. So, it’s going to take some time, right? A few games for them, maybe even longer to get comfortable with each other on the court. But even with that though, Sarah, I’m just looking at the game, I’m like, too many turnovers. Too many turnovers in that first in that first quarter, in that first half. Thoughts on that? Yeah, that was the biggest issue. And I think it was an issue that, you know, we had last season in some games that, you know, they didn’t they didn’t need to happen here. I don’t think it was necessarily, you know, bad bad turnovers like we had in the regular season. It was more of like let’s get used to our team regular preseason stuff, but the turnovers is what got us into that hole. Absolutely. Like we did great with um the defense uh after that and uh and the off I mean the offense and stuff and getting it going, but uh yeah, the turnovers big. Yikes. And the the four person that was pretty funny. Ty was out there arguing like do we get do we really have what if we wanted to play with four, you know, like do we really need tech that you know? But uh yeah, just a little sloppy. We’ve seen it. We’ve seen it before, but like I said, it was ugly, but we we we managed through it. Yeah, you’re getting you’re getting a lot of love in the chat, by the way. They were like, “Yeah, Sarah is the truth.” Um and I’m glad you guys think so because she’s going to be here all season long, so you guys are going to get to hear her takes, her great takes, her perspective of what she sees. It’s going to be it’s going to be nice. Detroit Drew says, “Kate out here doing horse layups.” Bro, we going to get to Kate in the pool. Trust me, we going to get there for sure. But um definitely Kinyatta says it’s going to be some hard decisions for JB 100%. Yes, that’s a good problem to have. Getting back to a little a few more initial thoughts, um we talked about the Pistons carelessness with the basketball early. Memphis made them pay. Um Memphis actually had a 20point lead in the first quarter to end the first quarter and they could not miss off those turnovers and they were spotting up and knocking them down after almost every turnover. They were seven for seven to start the game and go ahead. Go ahead. in threes too and outside they were I think I don’t know what they made it to but they made us like eight or nine threes before missing and yeah uh you know that’s as we saw it’s not sustainable uh and but that did not help over our turnovers that not help shout out to my boy Eric Vincent. Eric Vincent by the way Eric was featured guys in the all together all the time all the time together he was featured in the documentary he asked a question and Kate answered it. Hashan to you, bro. You guys make sure you go follow him over at Top Title Detroit. He’s got great content over there as well. He’s also going to be on the Downtown Deuce show all season long with updates and just good news for us. So, shout out to you, bro. Keep doing your thing, man. I’m looking forward to what you have for us tomorrow morning or later tonight with what you have, what you saw. All right, giving back to this to this game, guys. We mentioned the turnovers. Um, we mentioned the points turnovers that first quarter. I’m going to stay there for a second. 42 first quarter points to the Grizzlies to a team that’s supposed that we’re trying to be defensive team, right? You can’t give up 42 points to that team without John and without Triple J. I’m not trying to harp on it too much, but we’re just looking at the things that identify us, what we’re good at, and we got to make sure that those things get cleared up. And of course, it’s game number one, like we said, but it’s just something I have an eye on, right? You still want to build good habits going into the regular season. You can’t completely disregard the mistakes and the errors that you made. know that’s what made it so hard to watch for me because I knew and you probably knew too that they could be playing a whole lot better than how they were playing and it just didn’t seem fully committed to the defensive end and you could really see it. They were it was a lot of a lot of just gambling defensively, right? Trying to make the home run play instead of just getting the single. What I mean is like a home run being trying to play the passing lane and getting the skill instead of just getting the single, which is just playing straight up solid defense. with discipline and it’s too early too often they were just trying to make that home run play and most times when they would try to do that they would gamble not get the steal now the Grizzlies have a advantage you got a you know numbers advantage so got to be more disciplined it’s game one we get it I’m going to give them a little bit of a pass for that but I’m hoping we’re not going to see anything like that first quarter again for the rest of the preseason and I think you know after tonight’s game I think that’s going to be the last time we see that yeah I agree um with especially We JB you could see in the start of the second quarter he was just on the sideline like go go go go when when they get to make the baskets we don’t get the fast break opportunities and then we’re slowly bringing it up it like you said we just look discombobulated like we just look like oh well what’s the play plan here so um and then we just yeah turnovers again even when we did like set it up get it right so for sure for sure organic Lindo says you could tell at a certain point K just put his foot in the ground and declare him so the best player in the floor. But yeah, you could even tell about how how he was rebounding the basketball. Yeah. Like he was like, “Come on, man.” Like you could see it. We’re going to get to him for sure. Um to end it off with the initial thoughts that I had, um as we all saw if you watch the game, the Pistons picked it up. They woke up in the second quarter and they really didn’t look back until towards the end of the game when, you know, we had some different guys in. But everything changed when they actually just strapped up and decided to play to who they are with energy and effort and consistency. They they took over the game. They were down 42 to22 after one. And then in the second quarter, they scored 50 points, turning a 20point deficit into a 10-point halftime lead by outscoring the Grizzlies 50 to 22 in that second quarter. So once again, if you watch the game, you understand why we were so frustrated in that first quarter, cuz they didn’t look like the Pistons that we were accustomed to seeing. It just took them a little bit of time to kind of get going and once they did, that was encouraging. It just shows you how much talent we have. When we want to, we can turn it on. And last year, that wasn’t really a problem. JB, the second half of the year had us playing right to our level more times than not. So, I’m not really concerned about this because now we have the talent. And I think once again, I’m sure he’s going to be in their ear tonight. Like, this can’t happen again, guys. It’s preseason, but this can’t happen again. Not like this. So, I’m encouraged by how we were able to bounce back because it wasn’t like we just played, we tried to play harder, we just didn’t have enough. like we took over the game immediately. Yep. You know, so that was that was good to see. And you know, when we did get get shots up in that in that slow first, you know, it was like Tobias, Tobias’s dunk, Isaiah Stewart, those guys really brought it for us. So, it was just a little bit of just getting the ball to them, getting the ball set up and everything. Uh, and then yeah, the second quarter, like they said, Kade just turned it on. Everybody started clicking. I’m sure between the first quarter JB was in their ear, Kade was in the ear, Tobias was in the ear. We’ve heard about how Tobias is not afraid to call anyone out. And they they knew it, too. They probably were like, “Let’s let’s just clean it up. Let’s go out there. Let’s do it.” And they did. They did. Yeah. Exactly. They turned it on. They turned it on. Yep. All right. So, with that, Sarah, let’s go ahead and jump to the box scores. And let’s start with the starters. And we are going to start with our superstar point guard, Kate Cunningham. So, Kade tonight, guys, finished with 20 points on eight for 11 shooting. overall two or three from three, two or three from the free throw line. He had four assists, two steals. He did have three turnovers in 19 minutes. So, I’ll let you kick it off, Sarah. What were your thoughts on K tonight? I mean, he he showed up and showed out. That is some MVP level playing. He I mean, he has the turnovers, but that that was expected. Uh something he’s working on. Uh the 20 points. What I do want more from Kate is more assists, but he just took care of the ball. I think he just looked, read the floor, saw what was out there. If there was nowhere to no outlet, then he took care of it. He did it. Um, we saw him rebound. We saw his his defense uh pick up. His crazy, you know, reverse layup from the off uh off throw from Tobias, you know. Um just insane highlights. They He was a walking highlight reel once he turned it on. Absolutely. Just fantastic. Absolutely. Shout out to Tom. What’s going on, Tom? Yeah, number one Korea Pistons fan in the world. So, I had to shout him out for sure. Yes, sir. Yes, sir. You’re continuing to get the love here, Sarah. So, yeah, you get used to that cuz you show love over here for real Pistons fans. You already know. And I And I love Tom. Shout out to Tom as well. I saw here. I saw Maddie in here. I saw some shout out. Yep. Yep. Fantastic. Just big fans. Uh, you know, involved in the game, too. I know that they’re just as excited. So, for sure. Shout out to everybody, man. Like, all the comments, all the love. Like, y’all know how we how we do it, man. This is going to be a fun season. Y’all keep this coming, man. This, like I always say, I’ll be talking this I’ll be talking if it wasn’t you guys, I’d be talking to my wife while she asleep about the game cuz she’d be like, “We shut up already.” So, it’s like it’s good to be to talk to you guys about it a little bit and be able to to do what we do. So, all right. So, my thoughts on Kate, man, you hit on a lot of things I was going to hit on. I’m going to hit on a few more. Kate Cunningham is just really good at basketball, man. Beautiful. Like, he’s Kate Cunningham is so good at basketball. You mentioned it. He looked like a superstar tonight. is preseason. Sure, I get it. But the same way you guys say sometimes it’s summer league, which we’re going to get to later, sometimes you can still see just from a quarter or two improvements are what stands out with certain guys. And tonight, you can see with K, he wasn’t perfect. He has some turnovers like you mentioned, but he was more in control, right? The game has slowed down more and his jump shot looks even better. Oh, yeah. He the shots he was knocking down, the three ball looks improved. Mhm. I think he’s going to be taking a few more threes this year as well. Um, and he also looks bigger and stronger. He was able to absorb a lot of contact on drives and be able to finish through contact at the rim along with also creating separation and getting the defender off of him on dribble drives when he would get to that fadeaway. So, he’s gotten stronger for sure. And we all knew he needed to get stronger because he never gets a a free throw, a call, right? A foul call, right? He had he had no open shots. He was that he was guarded every time he he pulled up and he just made it work, you know, with his step backs getting to the paint. It’s what he wanted. He just got what he wanted tonight. Honestly, he has definitely improved his game. I can I can see it after one preseason game. I can already I can just already see it. I wouldn’t be surprised if he ends the season as second team AllNBA. It’s a long way away, but that’s my prediction. I have him second team AllNBA and maybe even a little a little bit further than that, but we’ll see. We’ll see. But yeah, Kate Kate uh who mentioned it earlier where he just said, “You know what?” He put his foot in the ground and said, “Hey man, why are we losing by 20 degrees?” He was like, “John, Triple J, what are we doing?” Yeah. And he just said, “Okay, put me in the game. I’m going to get buckets. I’m going to make sure this is not going to be something we’re mad about when this game is over.” So I, you know, he he had the pride and said, “Hey, I don’t care what’s going on. I don’t care. It’s preseason game. We’re playing basketball on the court, but we’re playing an opponent. We’re in between these lines. Let’s play.” and he really ignited them really really being able to get to what they want to get to. So it was good to see that from him. Kade is a superstar in the making. He’s already here and yeah, he only he did play what 20 minutes 20 points and all in 20 minutes. So it’s like didn’t play a ton of minutes but still was able to be productive. Yeah. And and again he had 20 points only four assists but everyone else improved the minute he started improving. His leadership and his game rubbed off on everyone else like you know what let’s go get it. Yeah. Yeah. For sure. For sure. Y’all, man, we trying to keep up, guys, with the comments. Y’all y’all y’all are coming in hot, man. But we love it. Keep them coming. Keep them coming. All right, let’s move on to Jaden Ivy. So, tonight, Jaden Ivy had seven points on two five shooting, one of one from three, two from the free throw line, three turnovers, one assists in 14 minutes. So, Sarah, thoughts on Jaden tonight. All right, so he started off slow. Uh, expected would have been absolutely mind-blowing. He just came out and took over. would have been like all right like that you got some superpowers with that healing you know what stuck out for me was his first basket it was an Ivy miss to a Paul Reed tap in Paul Reed was he was he was and then and then a Duncan Robinson steal back to Ivy for a three right beautiful five-point swing easy right so once he got that basket in he got a little more comfortable he didn’t take off tonight but he took better shots I feel like he uh you know just just had a little bit more confidence after he saw that three go in and was like okay it brought him back. So yeah, 100%. He hasn’t played. It’s We’ll get to that. We’ll get to that. But what you said was was was correct. He he looked early. He looked like he was just a little bit out of out of sync. And it wasn’t just him. Everybody looked out of sync. But for him, it was really understandable. Right. He it was a few plays early in this game where I could tell he just was not in sync. He had a couple bad fouls early. He was in foul trouble. One of them he was going for a loose ball trying to get a steal. Really wasn’t there. Bad foul. Yeah. And then he had an offensive foul forcing the action a little bit at the rim. Right. So I was I could just tell you could just see that this was his first game in nine months. Yep. And like you go ahead. Go ahead. JB JB mentioned that in in the on media day. He he straight up said like we we know that it’s going to take time for him to get back to playing five on five basketball. So uh you know and he and he did he took that time and he still is I just think it’s going to just only go up from here. Uh, and like you said, everyone else had the rust to break off and so everyone’s a little out of sync, which didn’t help, right? But not worried about it. Not worried about it. I wasn’t expecting too much for him in this game. It’s funny because uh before the game, uh, Zaric, shout out to Zar, he said the same thing that he wasn’t expecting, you know, he wasn’t going to set the bar super high for him for this game. And just from watching him, I’ve been watching him since his Purdue days. It looked like he was passive. It looked like he was trying not to make mistakes. It looked like he didn’t want to step on anyone’s toes. Yeah. And I mean that makes sense because he’s he watched this team closer than we did last year when he went out. He saw the team play well when he wasn’t there. So, you know, he probably didn’t want to interrupt what but it’s like we need you to interrupt because we’re going to be better with you, right? Making the mistakes now to make our ceiling higher later, right? I feel like we we pretty much maxed out with what we had last year available to us, right? We could have went further in the playoffs, sure, but the way we were playing, right, for a young team, you couldn’t really ask for more with the talent that was given. But now, I’m okay with taking a step back temporarily to take three or four forward in the future. So, we’re going to need him to be aggressive. And like you mentioned, second half, he was even the second quarter, he was more aggressive. There was a play on the break when he caught the ball at the rim and it was I think it was a fast break. He caught on the break and he had a defender at the rim and the guy was not going to block his shot. He was gonna have to foul him, but Jay laid it up. Yeah. And it got blocked. I’m like, “Bro, like dunk on him.” Like go go go up like Russell Westbrook side go up and dunk and try to dunk on his head. Either dunk, posterize him or draw the foul, right? But in that second quarter, he got going, right? He was looking to be more aggressive because when he’s got that head of steam, he he’s really hard to stop and he was able to get to the rim and finish through traffic multiple times. And I think once he saw one fall, that’s what enabled him to knock down that shot from deep that you talked about because once you see one goal fall, even if it’s a free throw, just see it go through the rim, that boost your confidence, right? Especially when you haven’t played for 9 months. So, I’m not concerned about him at all. Um, it reminded me once again of Assara last year when he was out for eight months with the blood clot. So, you know, it’s going to take time regardless of who you are. It doesn’t matter. So, he just needs the same time, the same reps, and once he gets into that rhythm, he’s going to be really, really good for this team. Yeah. And I think that is a little bit of a mental game, too. When you come back from an injury like that, you know, of course, uh you can practice and practice practice, but until you are on the court playing in a game that, you know, matters. It’s then you, you know, you have to get over the fact that like you were seriously injured and and I think that might have been a reason that his aggressiveness was a little slow. I agree with you that he was like, “Oh, I’m just not going to throw this team off because, you know, they they have a rhythm without me a little bit, but I think it was also just that mental even if it’s a little bit uh subconscious, you know, so but he did he did once he started going and even though he missed some, some were blocked, he was driving to the rim with two defenders down there, he was trying to get, right? Absolutely. For sure. Yeah. So, I’m not I’m not worried about him. It looks like you guys kind of the same page. Detroit Drew says Ivy got to control that speed, but it’s good to know that it’s still there. At least he was aggressive. Exactly. A lot of people were I wasn’t because I already knew, but a lot of people were concerned. Is that burst still gonna be there? Is that athleticism still gonna be there? I think he answered that question pretty quickly tonight, right? He’s got all of it pretty much there. Um and he’s been taking care of his body. So, yeah, he is now just about trusting that leg. Y and really having confidence. It’s too many times I’ve seen guys, not saying this is the case, but I’ve seen guys come back early too early from injury. Yeah. say it’s a leg injury and they they put too much pressure or they lean on their other leg because they’re afraid of pushing off on the leg they hurt and that causes another injury and they’re out again, right? So So I’m in in retrospect, I’m glad that he didn’t come back for the playoffs because now there’s no question whatsoever if he’s healed. Yep. That’s right. We know for sure like with them they because he had the possibility to and they mentioned it on media day too and I’m really glad that he didn’t because again that that super helps. uh you know, we’re hearing about a bunch of players kind of speeding recoveries with Achilles cal things and it’s a little scary. I think about, oh well, you know, they’re like, Tatum’s already out there. I’m like, you know, but a little nerve-wracking and so I’m really glad that Ivy did have that time off because then he also was uh able to just participate in the offseasonly without straining anything. So, absolutely. I and he we know like I said we never really got the chance for him to get him a fast break to get him from one side of the court to the other with the Grizzlies making their shots uh and us just inbounding not really having a a chance to push it. So right that that’s coming. Agreed. Agreed. We’re seeing a lot of comments from about Danish Jenkins and Tollu Smith. By the way, Tulu Smith guys was who you saw in the opener. He gave me that shout out. So shout out to you, bro. We gonna get to you a little bit later, but I see you guys were paying attention to what was going on in the second half, the latter part of that game for sure. So, we’re going to get to that um a little bit later. Let’s move on now, Sarah, to Assar Thompson. All right. Tonight, he had five points on two five shooting, 0 for one from three, one for two from the free throw line. He had five rebounds, three assists, two steals, one block. Stephan Stashy Peruge, um two turnovers in 16 minutes. So immediate reaction to what you saw from Assar tonight? What I saw from Assar was his him at 80%. And I and I I’m excited for his 100%. Uh I think he you know I think he had some hesitation with bringing the ball up that JB’s trying to get him the ball um as the main ball handler in situations that Kades out and I think there was a little bit hesitation there. Just getting used to it, just getting his confidence. Uh, again, not worried about it. And like you said, he he hit every uh every stat in the in the in the sheet. You know, he got the steals, the blocks. He made big rebounds when it mattered. He he uh tried to get to the rim as much as possible. A couple jump couple jump shots. I noticed one of his free throws, you know, he said that he’s trying to work on arcing his shot more and one of free throws was just straight flat and then he immediately adjusted and uh and shot it. And so I think that that’s just by the time the season starts, I think he’ll have that way more down. So, um, I I I like I see from Assar, but I know that there’s more to come. Yeah. Yeah. We going to keep we going to keep it a stack, right, about Assar. Um, I call him Tasmanian Thompson. Yeah. And he was up and down tonight. He was he was he was up and down. It was a roller coaster tonight, right? He made he’d make a nice play, then he turned it over. Make a nice play, then pick up a bad foul, right? Um, he needs to continue to work on his discipline. Sometimes he still gets a little bit too aggressive because he’s so good defensively on ball. I think he has that confidence. I can take it away every time, right? But a lot of times he gets in trouble. He gets his hand with with caught with his hand in a cookie jar and he gets caught for a foul or maybe he’s getting too aggressive. He’s biting no pumpakes, right? So, he needs to continue to work on that discipline. Mhm. Um, and this jumper you mentioned, it’s a work in pro. It’s still a work in progress. is definitely a work in progress. Um he has some bad misses. A few times he didn’t know if he should go off glass or if he should go go straight on. It would just kind of clank like a bad miss. So he’s still he’s still working through that. He’s still working through it. It’s something he’s going to have to just continue to work on. It’s he’s got it’s going to take time. It’s not his strength right now. But defensively, he made some nice plays. Um he had a nice helpside steal under the rim, which would have been a dunk if he wasn’t there. Um had a nice block at the rim. Had a crazy breakaway dunk. looking like LeBron on a break. Oh my god. His his his athleticism is ridiculous, man. It doesn’t make any sense. I always hear, “Yeah, Amen is the top athlete. I’m, you know, I’m in is the it’s like, did they forget he has a brother?” I don’t understand. The the prisoner of the moment stuff is crazy. The first year when they came into the league, Assari was the one getting more attention cuz I’m in because Amin was hurt and then last year it flipped. So, it’s just like this the short the short memory is is hilarious to me. But Assar, we know when he’s at his best. Yeah. When he’s able to use that speed, right? Not not as much ball handling yet cuz he’s still kind of loosey goosey with the basketball sometimes, right? He does make the flash play a flash like, “Whoa, I didn’t know he had that.” But too many times he’s battling the ball, moving too quickly, but you see the talent, the ability is there. I still want him to focus on the defensive side of the floor. Mhm. I’ve heard about him playing. I I’m not I’m not and especially with who we have now, what we saw tonight from other guys. I I would rather him not do that right now because we have taking care of the basketball is so important. We saw it tonight. You don’t take care of the basketball, you’re going to pay for it. And we have guys on this team who I think can better do that. So, I think for now him just continuing to focus on the defensive side of the ball and being opportunistic when it’s there as opposed to giving him plays and saying, “Go run this set.” Mhm. Well, that’s like JB when he was, you know, on the sideline being like go, go, go. That was Assar bringing it up and and I think that again the hesitation is just the biggest thing with Assar. I think once he taps into his confidence, he’ll be there. And we have uh we’ve talked about the wings like having Assar and Ivy, having Assar and Ron on our side, we know they’re speedy. So, um but I agree with you completely. I think, you know, uh JB can see that he can be a very very well-rounded player. Uh but if he could just if he focuses on defense and then just you know uh making the right decisions on offense, I think that then that’s all we need from him this season for him to really take off. Yeah. Yeah, for sure. So to offensively, we just got to be patient with him. You know, it’s not a thing where it’s like should we bench the nose, nothing like that. He’s he’s too good defensively I think right now. I think if anything, you just find other ways for him to be effective offensively that don’t involve him shooting as much or trying to look for his offensive much. But he’s still too valuable to to sit down. I don’t think that should be a question right now. But he’ll get better. He’ll get better. It was nice seeing him and Ron Holland 9 to five kind of on the court together. Even though the shooting isn’t there yet, it’s you just see cuz we all were clamoring for that last year. Like, man, I want to see those two guys on the court, but they can’t shoot. So, we understand why. Right now, it’s like, let’s see how it looks. It’s preseason. These games don’t matter yet. Let’s just see how it looks. Yeah. And you saw the connection between them defense to offense on a few plays. They are really hard to score on on the court together. When they’re on the court together, it’s it’s really hard for opposing teams to really get to what they want to get to offensively. So, I’m looking forward and that’s why I’m looking for them to improve their jump shot. Not so much as much Ryan because Ryan is already showing that jump shot is improving. He’s a little bit ahead. But if Assad can get to that point eventually, the what they can do and the effect they can have on the game on both ends is going to be scary. But even without that, they still show they can be a plus on the court together. So that’s still encouraging. Oh yeah. And I think that I think if he focuses on like offensive rebounds as well, that will be huge. We know he has the length, the speed. So just like the little things. Uh again, first his game. I have a feeling the next the next preseason game, he’ll look a lot better. I think that he when we saw him in media day, he talked about how he wanted to be more confident, come out and show. So now we got this game out of the way, shook it off. He knows improve. So yeah. Yeah, man. Y’all are coming in hot with these comments. I’m We are trying our best to to keep up. If we miss you, repost it and we’ll try we’ll try to get to you for sure. All right, Sarah, let’s keep it moving. Let’s go to Tobias Harris. Uncle T. So tonight, Uncle T guys finished with 13 points on five for seven shooting, one for two from three, two, three from the free throw line, four rebounds, two assists, two steals, no turnovers in 14 minutes. So, Uncle T Sarah, what you got? I just emphasize how he’s in year 15 and he’s out here doing these things and it’s it’s fantastic. He’s setting a a a great example for our young guys. I just I love that he’s just such a veteran. Uh that early dunk, he’s had clutch shots, 71% field goal. He just he looked he looked ready. He looked he looked like I’m here. I’m ready for the season. And now uh I’m just excited to see what he sets up for for his teammates as well. Yeah, for sure. tonight. He kind of looked like an extension of what we saw in the playoffs. Oh yeah. Right. We know like last we know the beginning of last year he started off slow. Mhm. I can I can’t say definitively but I am very confident in saying that he is going to start this season much better than he did last season. Right. Tonight he looked very steady very steady. Unlike last year, right? He like the thing is unlike last year he didn’t know what his role was going to be coming to this team day one. You don’t even with training camp which only weak right that’s not a ton of time to figure out your role for the for a young team like this should I have more of a load should I have less of a load I don’t it’s just hard to know coming in right so that had to be figured out on the fly in the first couple of weeks and that’s why we saw him kind of struggle but tonight I know it’s preseason but even with the approach it last like he didn’t you could just see he played with so much more attention he understood his role for this team and he went and said, “Okay, I know what I got to do. Let me go do it.” And he just looks so comfortable. That’s why he was so efficient. That’s why defensively he looked solid. That’s why he was a plus in this game. Mhm. He knows his role for this. He’s the talent isn’t an issue. The ability is he’s a very talented player. It’s how do I fit in this team. Yeah. And having a team play in the playoffs and then having a full off seasonason along with the training camp. Now he knows exactly what his role is. And you and it’s showing now for sure. Plus that dunk on Santiama. That dunk. I was just talking to Eric about this. Eric was like, “Bro, why doesn’t he dunk with one hand anymore? It’s always these little modest, polite, two-handed dunks.” Tonight, he he threw that thing down all over uh Santi down. It was almost like he was It’s almost like he took the trade rumors personal. Yeah. The trade rumors about we need to we need to get a stretch forward. I was Hey, I was saying Nas Reed, right? I was saying Nas Reed. I was hearing Santiama. I was hearing other guys, Lori Markin. It seemed like he took that out on Santiama when he was at the rim cuz he don’t usually do that. So to see him, usually it’s a little evasive layup, right? But he said, “Nah, you right here. I’m posterizing you.” Go ahead. I think I think you made the You said the perfect word. It was steady, steady, comfortable, reliable, and he I mean, he just knew, you know, he started with the same guys basically, you know, uh, and then with Ivy and Stu. But he he’s used to these guys. He feels good. And like you said, he took it personal. He’s that kind of guy. He he has chips on his shoulder. He wants to go out and prove. So, I uh I I just I loved him tonight and and then like you said, last season he had good games, off games, good games, off games, you could never tell. And just to come out here in preseason, you know, they said at the start of the at the start of the game, he was like, I doesn’t matter. This is a preseason game. We’re going to go out and give it our all. And he followed through. He did that. Yeah. Yeah. And this is a different note, but shout out to him, too, for what he’s doing for the community. Oh my gosh. as far as trying to help with providing housing, providing loans, good loans for people to be able to get a house and things like that. Like that doesn’t get talked about enough. So, I want to shout him out for that, for pouring back into a city. He’s got roots here. He’s got family here. I want to shout him out for that cuz he’s he’s the perfect vet you want for this team. The professionalism, just how he carries himself, the experience of being in the playoffs, and then off course stuff like this. This is this is why I don’t think he’s going to get traded. Oh, yeah. Before the season’s over. Yeah, I think he’s going to play this contract out. This two-year deal, this is the last year of his deal. I think he’s going to play it out. I think he should play it out. Yeah. Because even if he doesn’t come back after this year, there still could be things he could probably teach some of these guys. Right. So, there’s no reason to do anything now in my opinion. Go ahead. Yeah. Someone said, I’m trying to find the comment. Like you said, they’re all here. It is. He needs to retire a Piston. Yeah. Doesn’t if he doesn’t stay with us after this year, I don’t I don’t know if he’ll go elsewhere. It’s up to him. Like they said, he’s in year 15. He still looks fantastic. Yeah. But with what he’s doing with the community, like you mentioned, uh what he’s doing for this team, it’s just all falls under that that realm, that word comfortable. He he he’s comfortable where he’s at in life, in the game, and his team. So, it’s it’s just awesome to see that he that he’s really embraced it. And of course, the city embraces him. So, absolutely. Yeah. We think more of him than a crumble cookie for sure. Tobias, if you’re watching this, we do not view you as that. We have more We love We love you here. So we that would be nice for him to retire as a Piston. I think that’d be a nice gesture. I think he has earned that at this point and I think he’s going to be here for the duration of this year at least for sure. Oh yeah. Okay. Dominique with the first super chat of the year. Appreciate you brother as always. Always showing love, man. I got to lift my head cuz he got a long comment. Let me go ahead and get this in real quick. All right. Dominique says, “What’s good, dudes? Glad to see the band back together.” Yes, sir. Liked what I saw. Trying not to get too hype. It’s preseason. Uh-huh. But I’mma overreact anyway. My guy Crash Out Ron gonna be balling this year and Duncan shot is so beautiful. So Sarah, you look like you want to get you wanna chime in on that. Go ahead. Oh, I’m just I just love I love what he said about Duncan. I don’t know we’ll get to him, but Duncan I mean for to be on the team way to show up and show out for these fans, you know, that was I mean awesome. He did great with his shot, his uh his, you know, we’ll get to it more, I’m sure, but I plenty of stuff on on Duncan and uh I think it’s okay to overreact when we’re winning, you know, because I think if we lost, you know, we’d be we’d be saying don’t overreact, too, but you know, soak it in. That was I mean that was a great game. We we we g we dug oursel a hole and then we got out of it. Right. Right. Yeah. So, like I think the biggest thing is not to overreact to the record. Oh, yeah. Absolutely. Right. For if we’re one and three or two or something like that. Oh, we didn’t go forward. Oh, who cares? Oh, yeah. Right. That that kind of thing. But Dominique made made a good point. Uh Ryan, we’re going to get to Ryan, too. But Ryan also showed some things that he’s kind of pretty much an extension from summer league, right? This wasn’t his team tonight, but you still saw his approach that he had with Summer League. Very, very similar. So, we going to get to him. Before we get to him, let’s go ahead and get to Isaiah Stewart. And once again, Dominique, you’ve been showing love since the beginning, bro. Got a lot of love for you, man. I appreciate your love. Um, yeah, let’s keep it rolling, man. All right, so let’s go to Isaiah Stewart. So Isaiah Stewart tonight, guys, had, by the way, he started like we mentioned earlier for JD. Starter minutes. He had 12 points on five for seven shooting, one on two from three, one on one from the free throw line, four rebounds, one block, one turnover in 18 minutes. So Dog Pound King member, what did you think of our guy Isaiah Stewart tonight? I think I’m I’m a little shocked at his stats that they’re not higher because it seemed like he has such a bigger impact. Like that’s just what he brought to the to the team. And you know to mention JD, I think they’re just being cautious with JD. Like you said, I don’t think it’s a big thing. Um Steu’s used to he you know I I don’t mind stew in the starting lineup anytime we need him. Uh he I just saw his IQ a lot. He he was on Landale had him a lot and he knew it and he attacked every time. Yep. He was like I know I can I can get to the rim on you big guy. and he did. Um and then you know he mentioned in media day using that three when needed. This is exact situation when he needs to shoot a three when we’re down big and when he’s wide open right three saw it you know because you know if he didn’t have that that green light you know he might have did an extra pass dribble it to the basket. He knows his ability and so I think that he used it exactly how he should and uh I just his energy was fantastic. Uh yeah, the blocks, the the rebounds. He was just he was just he was at he was by the rim all the time except between the threes, but he was there. Some of y’all are drunk in these comments, man. We need to y’all just trolling. We need to bring in another vet like Luigi Tommy or Walter Herman. Bro, stop. Marvin talking about I prefer Tobias over LBJ and his team this year. Hey man, I don’t know if you joking or serious. Said Tobias is the Pistons, Jared Goff. Like, hey, I’m not mad at that one. I’m not mad at that one. Just study. Hustler said Miami would get frustrated with Font. Come on, man. Why you still catching strays, bro? Y’all silly. Go ahead. You gonna say something? I was just saying that would have been my when I I told you I like I What if we do a comparison between Lions and Pistons and and you know Jared Goff, you’re like, “Oh, okay.” Because he runs the show. But I think it’s more um Tobias calm calm demeanor knowing where to go and when to do it. So I agree wholeheartedly with that comment. Yeah. being the the you know the wy vet of the of of the young team which is just just like the Lions, right? So, a lot of similarities there for sure. Good leader. Yeah, 100%. Doesn’t do anything crazy flashy but just gets the job done, right? So, I think that’s a that’s a pretty good comparison. I’m not mad at that at all. And it’s funny because somebody said that we pretty much went from saying, “Oh, it’s only a two-year deal from Tobias to not wanting to resign him. Shout out to you.” That’s a great point. Yeah. It’s a tradable It’s a tradeable contract to now it’s like oh is he gonna come back next year how quickly things can change. That was the plus that people said when we signed him back like well at least 22 years at least we can get out of it you know and now we’re like no stay. Yes 100%. Organic this is the last one and I’m I’m done with y’all trolling while we’re at it. What’s Henry Ellison and Java we’re up to? Y’all y’all sick man. Y’all sick, bro. I’m done. I’m done with y’all man. I’m done with y’all. All right, let’s go ahead and Oh, I got a comment on Steu. Okay, so yeah, my thoughts on Ste, man. First of all, why are people still trying to dunk on Ste? Crazy. They don’t know. Y’all don’t have any film on this, man, by this point. Did y’all not see what he did last year? Do y’all just think he’s still just a fighter or a brawler or just starting trouble? They going to find out eventually. Poke the dog. P me around. Find out, man. Y’all know what it is. Anyway, um he looks to be I was watching this. He looks just how he was moving. He looks to be every bit of the player he was be uh pre-injjury. Yep. He just looks He looks like Steu. Mhm. He looks like Stu. Watching him play now with this added three ball. I said this last year before he got this, but watching him play player compwise, I see a young Al Horford, Atlanta Al Horford, allstar level Al Horford, not Al Horford now who’s 374 years old. Yeah. but the one that was in his early early to mid 20s, mid to late mid to early 30s, right? So, that’s what I’m looking for and that’s what I see in him because you see he’s an undersized big, right? But he gets the most out of his ability and it seems like year over year he gets a little bit better here and a little bit better there, right? Just as close to that ceiling as humanly possible is what he seems to be doing. His footwork has improved. I saw him taking a seat under the hoop, right? And saying, “Give me the ball.” Too little down here. Nice little move. Bucket easy. And and with the three ball now, I see a lot of Al Horford because he’s got the defense. Al Horford was not a crazy leaper, but he knew how to time his jump. He knew angles. He studied film. Isaiah Stewart does all those things and they’re around the same size and they’re both strong. So I see I see Stu being Al Horford Atlanta Hawks level player. I think he has the ability to be that good. If you guys remember Al Horford back when he played for Atlanta, y’all when they were winning 60 games with Kyle Corver and Jeff Teague and all those guys. Yeah, y’all remember. So that’s definitely what I see for uh Isaiah Stewart. But yeah, I mean he does what Steu does, man. He set the tone. Um he pitched the tent in the paint, right? Didn’t allow anything in the paint and he set great screens. And if he’s take if he takes like two to three threes a game, I am cool with that. Yep. I think to keep the defenses honest. Yeah. Cad’s Kad’s shooting improved also off with Stu’s help with Stu’s screens, right? And for a guy that’s built like a football player, he’s so the athleticism. We talk about Kad’s athleticism. We talk about Asar’s athleticism. We talk about Ivy’s. What about Stu? It’s insane. And and again, like you said, did they not remember that he led the league in grim defense last year? missed the defensive team by just not playing enough minutes, you know, which I do hope that this year he does get that opportunity. And honestly, like I’m watching him and I’m just like we have two big men. We’re deep in our big men. Whoever is I’m happy with it. There’s there’s you know uh like you know last with we talked about it like there’s Jokic and there was DeAndre Jordan. That’s a difference. You know last year for us there’s Stew and there’s Duran. There’s there’s no there’s no difference. They both bring uh they’re both different styles of play, but they’re both super reliable at that center position. Right. Right. Very true. Very true. Phantom of Dartness here says, “If Isaiah Stewart turns into a viable power forward option, then we won’t need to worry about getting another starting caliber power for.” So, how do you guys feel about that? How do you guys Because this is Tobias the last year of his deal. A lot of people were wanting a bigger power forward, right? Even though Tobias has performed well. Um, how, this is a question to the chat. How do you guys feel if the Pistons were to look at after this season moving Stu to the four with JD to the five, especially if Stu can consistently knock down that three ball? Now, of course, that would affect your bench because you got to have anchor off your bench. So, who would that be? That may be easier to get because, you know, bench guys are easier to get than starting caliber players. But, just want to throw it out there. I don’t have an answer at this point. I’m going to think about that. That was a good point. Um, I don’t know how I feel about that yet. I like Steu off the bench right now. Um, but I’m gonna think about that. What do you think, sir? I’ll give I’ll give, you know, I I like the the two big lineup. I think it’s something for, you know, kind of like OKC did with Hartinstein and and Homegrren. Um, I you know, Steu was a four for us already and did great there. Uh, and you know, after we’re going to get to him, but after tonight, I wouldn’t be mad if we did that and then had a Paul Reed sub in for center. You know, if because that that’s just I think I think I like you. I don’t know how I feel about it yet, but for certain situations against certain teams, a a lineup with with Duran at the center and uh Stu at the four would not uh would not harm us. I think it would actually do really well. Okay. Okay. Yeah, it’s it’s an interesting thought, right? I’m just I’m just thinking about it. We know two big lineups are starting to come back, right? We’ve seen that and we’ve all talked about winning a bigger power forward. So, we can’t just turn around now and say, “No, Stew with the power forward.” If that’s what we’ve been clamoring for, especially a forward that can shoot the three. So, just something to think about. I’m not sure what the front office is thinking, but I did think it was interesting to see that he is shooting more threes this year, you know, considering that he has been playing center for this team from the majority of time. So, we’ll see. We’ll see. But still play great. Still played great, man. Another big who we have we’re going to get to later, Shar, that you didn’t mention. You mentioned Paul Reed, who I wholeheartly agree, Tulu Smith. Guys, stay tuned for that. We have a lot more to get to on some of these reserve guys. So, let’s start with uh the first reserve, Marcus Sasser. So tonight guys, Sasser finished with 11 points on three of five shooting, 103 from three, four of five from the free throw line. He had four assists, he had one steal and one turnover in 14 minutes. What was your reaction to what you saw from Marcus Sasser tonight? I liked it. Um I think he came out and did what we know Sasser to do. He he uh the one turnover thing is huge for me because he had the ball a lot and he was ball handling a lot and he was getting to into the paint and if he didn’t finish, he kicked it back out. Uh, this also goes credit to Dannis Jenkins. One thing I remember is just, you know, Marcus collapsing, three guys on him and Danis made sure to get open and Marcus passed it back out. Danis hit that three. It was beautiful. They work really well together. Um, I I liked what I saw from Marcus. Again, I I know that he can do more. Like I know I know that he can amp it up more. Again, for the fast team that we are, I don’t think we got to that level of speed tonight. I think that affected it because I think SAS also works really good off of uh fast breaks and just getting the ball off the floor fast. Um, but I like it. I It’s It’s a commendable uh stat line for uh for the preseason game. Okay. I like I love Marcus Ser’s game. I think he’s a bucket. Absolute bucket. This is a big season for him, right? It’s a big season for him. Um, tonight he looked like he was more comfortable and in command of the offense when he was out there. They were kind of using him as a point and a shooting guard at times just trying to see where he’s most comfortable. You can still see when he’s playing point, he’s still trying to figure some things out. Yeah. At that point guard spot, there were a few times um I noticed on his delivery out of the um of his pass out of the pick and roll when Paul Re would roll off the screen, the pass would be too late. Yeah. And by the time the pass he would make the pass to Reed, Reed’s defender already switched back to him. Mhm. and the shot clock’s white. things like that is what I’m watching for with SAS as far as just getting the ball to where it needs to be at the right time as the point guard because the thing is we tal this this is what he has said if you guys have paid attention to what he said um during media day in training camp he kept referring to himself as the point guard he would say you know as a point guard this is what I got to do as a point guard this is what was required as a point guard I got to run the offense right so I’m trying to get comfortable as the point guard he just kept he kept saying that over and over and over again so with that I’m just watching him as the point guard, right? And I’m just watching him. He’s still he’s still trying to figure some thing. He doesn’t look completely comfortable playing the point. You can see as the two he’s a it’s easy for him, right? He can break anybody down one-on-one and get a shot off, right? But because he kept referring to himself in that way, it made me think that’s what the what coach is looking for from him to kind of take more of that point guard role. Yeah. But I think right now he’s still he still has some strides to make. Yeah. And I think as and I think right now we have some better options with guards with guys who are used to playing point guard cuz Sass is a scoring guard. So it’s kind of unfair to ask him to be the same level as some of these other guys when they played that their whole life. Yeah. Right. Just keeping it a stat. Go ahead. Absolutely. I agree with you. I I think that, you know, looking through the lens of like, okay, is this a good point guard? He did uh take a little time to make decisions. Um, as Nan says here, I thought Danis outplayed Sass. At least to the point I agree. Red floor a little better. But this this I agree with this. Sass only plays good when he’s on the floor with Dennis. And the reason I agree with this is because Danis and Sass grew up together. I think they’re very comfortable together. So I think it’s a matter of comfortability, too. So like they said, um, everyone mentioned him improving on media day. Uh, so I was looking for a little more, but maybe this is just the, you know, JB can go back and be like, “Hey, this is what I was talking about, you know, in this game, what you did or what we need you to improve on. This is what we need from you.” So, uh, but I I think someone else mentioned coming off the floor with like a Ben Gordon type, uh, to score because he is super reliable coming off the bench and being like, “We just need you to score because that’s kind of what we’ve used him as.” So, I think right now the consensus is uh shooting guard is is kind of where he needs he he needs to be, but we’ll see if he he could develop his point guard a little more. Right. That’s kind of the dilemma. It’s kind of like where is he going to be effective consistently? Yeah. Right. Cuz Go ahead. Like you said, uh too uh it is a big year for him. Uh he’s we’re determining, you know, whether you know he has a future on the Pistons and then or or elsewhere. And uh as a Sasser fan, I I really do hope that he he makes the the leap because I do like him with us. I do too. And even if you know, we have a lot of guys with potential to be great point guards and shooting guards. So even if he makes the leap with us and and leaves, I just want success for him, you know. So um I think uh he just needs to, you know, like we’re not not going to be able to react to preseason maybe sat line like I said, but then with your points I agree that you know he fell short in some areas. Yeah, it’s it’s just it’s just just some things to look out to look out for, right? He may he may play much better game two, game three, game four, right? More reps, more time. That helps anything helps any player in any situation. Um, so that’s that’s kind of what I have my eye on with SAS. I mean, he looks the part as far as offensively with his game. He can score the basketball at will. The only thing is that we have other guys off our bench who can also get their offense who are a little bit bigger. And we’ve heard Trajan say he wants guys who are bigger. He wants that defensive versatility. So, it’s like based off of those words, where is the role going to be for him? which is what I’m worried about for him. So, like you mentioned, if it’s not here for somewhere else, he deserve he’s he’s a NBA player for sure. NBA talent for sure. So, it’s just hard for me to watch him just on the bench like not get an opportunity. It’s just tough. It’s tough. But I hope he can figure it out for this team cuz if he can figure out a role for this team, we can really be we can really be a very deep and dangerous team, which we’ll get to more. Yep. Okay, let’s move on to Caris Levert. So, Caris Levert tonight. Luc Levert tonight guys had two points, one for eight shooting. He did not shoot well tonight at all. 1 for8 0 for four from three, one assist, two turnovers in 18 minutes. So this was a stinker for Caris Liver in his first game in the preseason of course with the Pistons. What were your thoughts on Caris tonight overall? I think that he he went out there and tried. You know that you know he got shots up. He’s like I’m going to try to you know make an impact. Didn’t work out for him. Uh, I’m uh uh I I’m have been a Levert fan. I think I is just getting getting the hang of it. I I know that he’s going to be okay. But like you said, tonight it was just just the ugliest statline on the team, but I I expect him to bounce back from that because he really is a good player. And there were a couple times, you know, that he was close. There were a couple D Robinson passes to him. He would get to the rim and and miss a layup, you know, whether there was contact or not. I did notice him talking, you know, to the refs a little bit after some stuff. And yeah, the P Detroit versus everybody. The Pistons are used to the refs not giving us the benefit of the doubt, especially with some of the silly touch fouls. They were calling on us on the other end. Um, so I think that he just needs to, like Kade has emphasized in in press conferences and stuff, he just needs to keep his mind in the game and just play through it and, you know, just just go harder. And I know I know he has it in him. Oh, for sure. So, I’m going to call myself all the way out just based off of this one small staple size. I told everybody, I’ve been saying for weeks now that Carist is going to be the most important acquisition this offseason. And I still feel that way. Yep. Right. I don’t have nothing has changed for me with Caris Levert. He didn’t look just his his shot wasn’t falling, but it a lot of it still looked within the flow of the offense. He was still making the right play. It just wouldn’t fall. It just didn’t go his way. But you saw the gravity that he had when he had the ball in his hands. You saw guys weren’t sagging off of him like they they respect him as an offensive threat. Yes, for sure. Oh yeah. So I’m not concerned with S or Caris at all. I think this just one bad game. His first game as a Piston preseason cruise control like somebody mentioned. Yeah, he knows his preseason. Not saying that you should develop bad habits, but he we’re not going to see this in the regular season. We’re going to see him kick it up a notch. Yeah. And I think he had great court movement. I think when he didn’t have the ball, he was moving around. He didn’t stand. he was going. Um, so I think uh he he tried to get the feel for it. Like you said, it didn’t go his way a few times. Uh I think it would look a little different if it did. Not worried about him and he’s still one of my favorite acquisitions and I’m excited for what he can do for this team and and and what him and Duncan can do on the floor. Yeah, we’re going to get to Duncan in a second. Yeah, shout out to Detroit Troy Drew. Solid defense. Yeah, he’s a good defender. That’s the thing. He’s guys, he wasn’t this type of defender before JB Biggerstaff. Period. That’s exactly what he said when he played for the Nets and these other teams. He has said multiple times that he was not demanded to play defense. It wasn’t demanded of him. So, he said he became a better player when he went to Cleveland and was coached by JB. He challenged him to be a two-way player the same way he challenged Kade last year to be a two-way player. So, we’re going to see this off seasonason from him defensively. He’s going to strap up defensively. That’s what he does now. He’s a complete player now on both sides of the ball. So Ryan says, “I think Cars is filling out a role similar to how Tobias did last season.” Good point. Getting the feel for his team in game in game time first. 100%. 100%. This is preseason. Great comp. Well said. Well said. Totally agree with that. All right, let’s move on to Duncan Robinson, who you actually just mentioned, Sarah. So Duncan Robinson tonight had 10 points on four for eight shooting, two for six from three, five boards, two assists, three steals. Wow. Pretty solid. One turnover in 19 minutes. What do you think about Duncan tonight? H I loved it. He I mean his his shot is so smooth, especially like when it goes in, it is just beautiful. He I don’t think he hit rim once. Just gorgeous. Um including the air ball. Yeah. Oh, what a feat. Exactly. Uh, someone earlier said like he that his airball was just him getting rid of his Miami days and now now it’s fire. I know. I love it. Uh, but he um he did great. I was actually more impressed with how he just went for the ball. Rebounds, offensive rebounds, defensive rebounds. His steel again, his steal that led to Ivy’s first basket back. Oh, good point. And you know, he was right there. He could have dribbled it in. He knew Ivy was behind him to make that shot, too. Uh, I I was very impressed with Duncan and I’m excited for more. I’m excited to see more. Nan says Chaz, this is off topic. Chad’s gonna be the Pistons version of Tesla. Isaac Tesla with the Lions. Oo, rookie. Rookie that that Okay, that takes a step early on. Okay, I’m not mad at that, Nan. Okay, as far as what I saw from Duncan, um, you mentioned it. Other than that, the air mail, um, he’s he knocked down a shot. He was open. He’s got a silky smooth jump shot, man. It’s crazy. Ron Hollings actually talked about how he’s been in his ear trying to pick up things from him shooting the basketball. So that’s going to be a great thing for a guy like Ron who’s got a similar build, different game, but similar build and got a nice looking jump shot. Does Ron Holland now as well? So yeah, Duncan is going to be good for this team. Um like you mentioned, he made some nice defensive plays, got some steel. I think just his his attention to defense is is pleasantly surprising. Yeah. For me, he you can tell he really understands the game. Yeah, he can see plays before they happen, which is what allows him to be able to get those steals, even though he’s not a gifted athlete. He can see it. So, that’s I think that’s the difference. I love bees, right? I’m not saying he even is bees, but I’m already seeing defensively some things that Duncan brings as far as just a defensive awareness that he has about himself. And I think that’s going to be something that is kind of underrated this year. For sure. I agree. Uh I actually had the same thought watching it because I was like, you know, of course I mean I miss bees. I was watching for sure all the time or together all the time all time together doc got a chance to you know and it was a little little bittersweet seeing these in there but I was watching it and you know Robinson I like he he got the these smooth threes he’s moving a lot and like you said he has awareness on the court just always aware uh always always moving oh my gosh like never stopping he would just he’d be out of frame for some of these and rebounds and he’s he’s like I can go get that. And I just really appreciated his uh his his drive today, what he really wanted to do and really show up and show out. He looks comfortable already. And he does. That’s huge. He does. That’s that’s a great point. And I think once again, this is it’s that’s what vets are so important. That’s that’s why they’re so important. Mhm. Him being to the finals twice. Yeah. Right. In two times in three years pretty much. He went with he went against the uh the Lakers in the bubble season in 2020 and I think again your Denver Nuggets. By the way, Sarah Saras is based in Denver, guys. So, she’s really uh What time is it, right? Like 8:48 right now. 9:48. What time is it? It’s a nice time thing. I get to come home and usually the game’s on by 5. It’s a quick thing. Uh, and Wendy says, “You’re Denver Nuggets.” I I I I love I love that. They’re so fun to watch. But, you know, the Pistons are my team. I just always have to clear that up because I mean, I the Nuggets are a blast. I mean, if you lived in a place that had Jokic, man, what? So, yeah, he would go to the games, you know. Uh, so I’ I’ve lived here for nine years and love it. But, uh, when the Pistons come here once a year, I am the Nuggets biggest hater. I love it. Yeah. So, that it and so you were probably 11 when K crossed over Jokic a couple years ago for that for that step back three. Okay. Okay. Okay. Okay. Uh, and I I remember uh I think the the business have only won one game in the nine years that I’ve lived here in Denver. Uh, and I just remember that was two years ago and I remember taking a picture. It was the best best day ever. And that was without Cade and without most of our That was without most of our our starters. So, you’re right. I remember that. Getting some some other fans around me some uh smack talk about how our B team is is beating their A team, you know, but the Nuggets are fun. But to go back to Robinson, like you mentioned, the Heat also have been a hard team for the Pistons to beat. Even last year, overtimes, uh, close games. Robinson was a factor in all of that and he he’s he so he’s been on teams that also rely on shooting and stuff. I wouldn’t say the Heat are similar to the Pistons in that you know they’re a coming up team. Obviously similar play styles because we defense kind of like the Hawks where we just there’s something about it where we just match up so well that it’s a so I think Robinson hopping over there was something about about that that helped get it in and he he was out there too a little bit a little talking to the ref frustrated and then that’s what we like to see is Piston fans. So I think any new acquisition that comes here any new player is going to be shell shocked. Yeah. But and they’re going to see it’s not hyperbolic as far as us complaining about it’s not tongue and cheek about us complaining about these these calls. It’s a real thing and it’s legit the level we’re talking about it at. It’s legit. So it’s not surprising that those two guys, Caris and Duncan. Yeah. When already are like, “Bro, huh?” So yeah, for sure. For sure. Duncan plays solid. Go ahead. Anything else on that? Yeah. Well, we got JB’s stats on his texts, how he never had so many texts in his whole coaching career, right? they got to the Pistons because it’s pure frustration, you know? Yeah. And so, uh, and so we have those passionate guys on our team and again, like like uh I mentioned earlier, they’re just going to have to learn to power through it and let it feed them. Let it let it feed that chip on everyone’s shoulder. Facts. Facts. Absolutely, man. Before we move on, let’s hit a few more comments. Uh, Doug says, “Deuce, time for summer break to be over. You still got it. And Sarah is a real joy. Pure analysis.” I appreciate that, Doug. Doug is a longtime Pistons fan. I think he’s been a Pistons fan for about at least 50 60 years at least. So, he’s the OG here for sure. So, shout out to you, Doug. You always show love, man. Appreciate that. Appreciate the compliment for sure. All right. Um, let’s go to our next guy here, Sarah. Let’s go to Lauron Leon Ron Holland Pound Jr. So, tonight Ron had nine points on three for six shooting, one of three from three, two from the free throw line. He had one rebound, one assist, one steal, one block, three turnovers in 16 minutes. Reaction to LeBron Don Pound Jr. Uh I I He almost took an easy took it easy on them. He didn’t even turn try to turn it up all the way yet. Um you know, but I saw him attempt some of his jump shots that he’s working on a couple threes. Uh not not mad about it. I I think a lot of it was just the discombobulation that they felt in the in the start, too. uh just getting used to a new lineups, new teammates. Um I I like I liked what I saw and again I just I know that there’s more to come. So I know he’s gonna just light light it up one of these days. For sure. For sure. For sure. Organ Lindo Sarah asked if you’re wearing a Jokic jersey. I don’t think those are Joker’s colors. I like Pistons colors. Ain’t it my Rasheed Wallace? I do have so I’ll tell you I only have two Nuggets jerseys and it’s a Phillips jersey and a McDice jersey because I’m not going to cheat on my Pistons. Uh I probably will get a Jokic eventually. Um but uh I only attend games in Bilops or McD. I love that. I love it. It’s like ritualistic at this point. That’s what I’m talking about. Exactly. Exactly. All right. Um one more comment on we talking Denver. Marvin says Jokic and Kaden the same team. Chico. That wouldn’t even be fair, bro. That would even be fair. That would be the most the best unathletic duo ever. Ever. Double nightmare ever. How many games would they have triple doubles each? Like probably 10 games both having triple doubs. Insane. I love Jamal Murray, but Kate, come on. Anyway. All right, we ain’t going to go down the rabbit hole. All right, let’s go to LeBron. You You had some good some good points on that. Um, somebody was asking about his jumper. I saw somebody asking how his shot looks. Ethan, shout out to you. Um, it looks good. It looks It looks much improved. Last year it was like a little bit of a hitch in his jump shot and his release. He was kind of pulling it across his body. Now he’s just going straight up with it. It looks really fluid, really smooth. There was one play and of course the confidence is the confidence is going to be even more now that he’s seeing the fruits of his labor with his jump shot. He’s seeing it get better now. It’s like, man, give me the ball. And that happened on one play in this game. I forgot what quarter it was, but the shot clock was winding down. I think Sass had the ball and Ryan’s like like give me the ball. Give me the ball. He gives him a pass. He doesn’t even think about it. He just goes straight up. Yeah. Bottoms. Yeah. So, it’s just like, man, this dude, he’s going to be a problem. Ryan Hton is going to be a problem, man. He had a nice chase down block. Um, and then went coast to coast for a nice dime for Duncan Robinson on the corner. Didn’t fall. It was a good shot, but it just shows you that two-way ability being able to track down shots almost like how Assar does and then being able to push the break. Like you’re you’re comfortable with the ball in Ron’s hands on the break. Yeah, already right. He’s a pretty good ball handler already and he’s a good playmaker out of it on the break already. So, it’s just like this dude ceiling is crazy. He’s just scratching the surface cuz he’s very well-rounded already. His shot has to come along and it’s already coming along, but he already has a very well-rounded game to where other than the shooting, you’re not like, “He’s got a glaring weakness. He’s got to work on that. Oh, he’s got he’s got a he’s very very raw.” Like, you don’t you don’t really see that with him. You see him having a higher ceiling, but not because he’s raw, because he can just get better. So, I am I’m over the moon about this dude, man. I He’s He’s got a chance to be really special, man. I think he’s going to make a big jump for the Pistons this year. Yeah. And last year when we first saw him, most of his shots were again like assists from Kade when he’s at the rim. He’d drive it in for a dunk. His fast breaks, he’d take it himself and, you know, he he’d either make it, he he’d throw it out of bounds, he’d lose it, or he he’d get fouled, honestly. So to see the fast break and then a pass out to Duncan was huge. Like the playmaking is there and he you use the perfect word, smooth. His none of his jump shots looked forced, none of them looked awkward. Uh a couple open ones, a couple guarded ones, he just went for it. And uh he’s just he’s just the more he does that, the more it’s just going to go down. Right. Right. Organic says 9 to5 started to cook and JB immediately was like, “All right, I’ve seen enough. Sit down.” Hey, you could be right about that one cuz in the limited minutes they were out there together, you saw like the ability, the potential with those guys, man. It’s like they’re like a bigger version of Lindsay Hunter and Mike James like pit bull on the court of the dog pound, you know what I mean? So, it was just really it’s really cool to see that. Pety Mac says, like I said earlier, Ryan Holland is here. Pety been saying that for a while. Got to give Pety a little bit credit. He’s been around for a while as well. Heisenberg says, Ronnie Hustle. Marvin says, GMs are blowing up the phones for Ryan already. 100%. Y’all y’all know the vibes, man. Y’all see what’s going on. Yeah, Ryan’s gonna be one of those guys, man. Holland and Duncan gonna be Broadway theater. It’s gonna be nice, man. It’s gonna be nice. Ron Holland defensively reminds me of Carlos Dofino. He has a Yeah, Dino was a was a pretty was a pretty good def defender, but Ron’s going to be way better. Oh, yeah. He’s longer. He’s tall. Yeah. Yeah. But I know what you mean, Mega Hustler. I definitely see that comparison for sure. Ethan says, “We have five starter level players in Cade, Ivy, Assar, Ron, and Duran. None of them are a four though.” I no I still think that Tobias is a starter level player, bro. Yeah. Straight up. Like he may not be a star, but he’s one of those glue guys that you need that can do a little bit of everything. Kind of fill whatever is lacking. He can kind of need him to rebound more, he’ll do that. Knock down shots, he’ll do that. Like he’s be a leader, he can do that. Make playm make a little bit when you need it, he can do like he can do a little bit of everything. You got to have guys like that. So there’s no way um I’m making any any calls about Tobias right now. If I get a call, okay, I’ll listen. But I’m not making any calls out like we need to upgrade that right now because I don’t think we need to. I just really don’t. I think and we need we need I know that like Dunc and Lever are considered the vets too, but like a vet again, I’m so happy he’s our vet and he brings composure is what the thing he goes he does what he’s needed. He checks out and then he just uh he’s in the game and he’s he’s amping up these young guys. He’s a great great guy for these Yeah. players to learn from. He really is. Mhm. Zion says, “Can’t forget about the finishing. Ron has been really missing a Yeah. Yeah. He’s either finishing getting and one or at least going to the line for two. That’s a great point, Zion. He’s he’s definitely improved that as well. He’s going to be scary, man. All right. Y’all are crazy, man. Imagine Darko and his team. Y’all got to stop, man. Like, y’all just trying to give us like y’all trying to get some comic relief or something, man. Detroit Darko is crazy. Heisenberg says, “Ryan and Assar were getting after on defense when they were out there together.” Yep. It feels like they have a friendly competition with each other. Hey, I love that. I love that because iron sharpens iron, you know, make each other better that way for sure. So, I love it. Major room vibes. I mean, they’ve emphasized it. They They’re out there to to support each other and everything. And so, I think I wouldn’t be surprised if they have a little competition together. I think that we’ll get a lot of this season of a defensive play- with one of them to an offensive play between both of them. So, Right. Right. Nan says Ryan has to say consistent. I think he shot 70% last year or in the 70s. That’s okay. As a rookie, as a wing, Eric made a Eric B made a great point and I agree with him. He says if you’re a wing, you got you can’t shoot below 70%. Yeah, you can’t. You can’t. Right. Not in this today’s NBA. Like it’s going to get to a point where bigs can’t shoot below 70% because it’s going to be an entirely shooting game, right? So yeah, I totally agree with that. But I think he’s okay. I think he’s he doesn’t take a ton of free throws yet. It’s going to go up this year for sure. Right. So, you’re right. He is going to have to knock him down, but I’m not concerned about that because his overall shot looks to be improved and his confidence is not going anywhere. Yeah, the confidence has improved. I think he in the early early last season with the Bucks game, he had that the game-winning free throws on the line. Yeah. And missed them both. And and that’s something that sticks with you. That’s not going to go away. Uh and I think it’s it sticks with him. And he will get he like you said, he will get better. He’s going to get more opportunities. I think he’s gonna get more minutes. he’s going to have uh more green light to to to handle handle business. Like you said, handling the ball, he looked he looked great. I I would trust it in his hands to bring it up. So, Yep. And he’s never lacking confidence. I mentioned it last show. We just talked about this going I’m kind of dating myself, but 1994 9495 finals, the Houston Rockets play the Atlanta Magic. Mhm. And the Magic were up late in the game with about 10 seconds left. Up three points. They get fouled. Two free throws. Nick Anderson goes to the line. Only got to make one to put the game away. He misses both of them. 80% free throw shooter. Misses both of them. Second one misses. They get the offensive rebound. He gets it and he gets fouled again. Goes back to the line for two more free throws and misses those. Oh my god. It was never the same. The Rockets after that still down three cuz he missed all four. They come, they tie the game, go to overtime and beat and win the game in overtime. Wow. He was never the same after that. He shot 60% sub 60% for the rest of his career after shooting 80% prior to that. So, he was never able to get over that mentally. Mhm. That ain’t Ron Holland. No. Ron said be on the challenge. Ron’s like you guys that will never happen again. Yes. I love it. Uh someone up here made a a comment again with the Lions that I love. Uh, I need Ron and Assar to come to a game and Kirby Joseph and because I I those are those those guys all defensive dogs you can rely on them to make the big play. So I 100% agree. That’s a great one. The Jared Goffin was good. I think that’s a great one. But Branch and Kirby, I like that for sure. What do you think of this from Phantom of Darkness? I actually think Ron may end up being a better shooter than a star. I think he already is and I think he always will be. Okay. I think he always will be. I think regardless of the work, cuz they’re both going to work hard. I don’t think Assar is going to outwork Ryan or anything like that. I think they both they both work hard. They both take pride in that, but I think Ryan is just a naturally more gifted offensive player. And I think Assar is a more gifted defensive player. Yeah. Right. I don’t think I don’t know if Ryan could ever catch Asar defensively. And that’s not that’s not a bad thing. Ryan Asar is going to be he’s trying to be DPI. So that’s not a bad thing. It’s just certain players are just have certain strengths and weaknesses. Yeah. And so I think Ryan’s always going to be a naturally better shooter, better scoreer. What do you think? I agree. Um I mean I agree to an extent. I can also just kind of see them having very similar stats. I think I think Ron uh his shooting the way that it’s gone so far, seeing from last season to what he’s improved to seeing that improvement from just uh the summer league to preseason. Yeah, he looks like the better uh offensive shooter when it comes to uh mid-range and and three-point. But Assar I think can catch up. But like you said, I think that focusing on the defense would just be huge because uh he has the natural talent for that. I mean, yeah, man. Defense is nuts. And I’m not worried about we Assar I mean Ron too, but Assar gets plenty of lobs from Cade to make any offensive uh deficit. So Oh, yeah. He gonna get his touches because he’s going to be able to turn defense and offense. Yes. And when that happens, he’s going to get the ball back. So yeah, for sure. I totally agree with you there. Nan says, “Classic story.” Oh, the uh the Houston Orlando. Okay. Definitely age yourself big dudes. Yeah, I’ve been around for a little bit minute, man. I’ll be I’ll be big four next year, believe it or not. You know, I’m just trying to trying to stay young. But I remember vividly every single NBA Finals run from 1990 or maybe even before onward. So, y’all know I’m coming with the old school stories, man. You know, y’all got y’all keep me young, but we going to definitely have some old school stories in there for sure, too. All right, let’s move on to a few more. uh reserves and then we can kind of pack this thing up for tonight. Paul Reed. Paul Reed, man. Bball. Paul was a plus 28 by the way. This is crazy. Um yeah, plus 28, which was more than double anybody else other than Dana Jenkins, who had plus 14, who we’ll get to later. But tonight, Paul Reed had five points on two shooting, one from the free throw line. So, he’s batting 1,000 tonight. 12 rebounds, 12 rebounds, two assists, two blocks, two turnovers in 18 minutes. So, I’ll let you go first, Sarah. What were your reaction to be ball tonight? Paul Reed was my player of the game. Uh, he was insane. Uh, when they started to turn up the heat, he had his hands on the ball during every one of those plays, whether it was an offensive rebound, a defensive rebound, an assist, a steal, something. I mean, also his assists looked great, too. We’ll get to it. But, I mean, yeah, first of all, always on the glass. He he is always by the rim. Doesn’t matter side, he’s there. And, uh, he had big rebounds. He had out-of- bound saves. He had that up the court assist to Robinson that was beautiful. He had that that uh pass inside uh was it to SAS? I forgot who it was to, but they didn’t end up making it, but it was a beautiful pass. um going off of the offensive rebounds on Kate missed free throw which led to um he didn’t get it but it led to our possession because Tobias he had rejections that I mean I I’ve been a Paul Reed fan and I’m so glad that we kept him especially at the price we kept him he is such an underrated part of this team. He has so much fight, so much dog in him. He is constantly going after the ball. He impacts every play. He was he he was again my player of the game. I don’t know if we could have come back. Well, I mean, I have faith in our team, but like he was just a big part of that coming back at 20 down because when we put him in, he he got he he just he did his job and helped get us get us to where we we ended up. Yeah. I mean, he was he was very solid, man. His energy and effort is always on 10. He’s got a really high motor. That’s one thing I appreciate about him because he does have some skills. It’s not like he’s just a motor guy. like he does have some ability, but he doesn’t just rest on that. He still always brings 100%. I appreciate that about him. Like you mentioned, a lot of offensive rebounds, a lot of extra possessions. Uh he looks a little bigger to me, too. Yeah, he looks a little wider, a little bigger than he was last year. So, like like everybody else in this team, he probably put on some, you know, put on some muscle, which is good to see. Um, the only thing that bothers me with Paul Reed, and it’s not even really a Paul Reed thing. It’s a big man thing that I see these possessions, man, where these bigs try to board and push, but they grab the rebound and just think that Kade on the break. Y’all know how I feel about that. I talked about JD last year with it. Like JD, find your outlet. You know, unless unless you’re like Ryan or you’re a Sar who’s big enough to back who to board, but also skilled enough to handle or you know what I mean? That kind. I don’t want to see JD. I don’t want to see Ron or not Ron. I don’t want to see Paul Reed. I don’t want to see Stew. I don’t want to see these guys, you know, dribbling off the court like cuz we saw it tonight a few times. He would he would try to do it and he would turn the ball over errant pass. And it’s like it’s so unnecessary. Not even needed. You know what I mean? That’s the only thing I I I it drives me crazy, Sarah. Like I’m literally screaming. It’s like pass the ball, pass the ball, turnover. I’m like, oh my god. Like so. But other than that, yeah. Yeah. Get that ball up. Find your point guard. Outlet. Outlet. For those who know, outlet. Um, but that was the only thing. But other than that, he played great. He played great, man. Like he he looked like a lot like the guy we saw last year. He’s going to bring it when he comes to the game. Until he sits back down, you’re going to get 100%. So, I love it. I love it from him. I I I agree with you. You know, this but I think he just gets so excited and sometimes I don’t think he I don’t think he even like realizes that he ended up with the ball because he just goes for it so much. uh just gets maybe a little bit overwhelmed just so a little bit better on decision- making, but God, I appreciate his hustle so much and I and I that’s why he’s here because it was notable last season. Um he’s not he he’s he’s just such a valuable part of of our bench and he gets he gets so deep and I I when Stu was injured and he had to come in and he stepped up really big. Uh I I just I enjoy him so much and to come out again and do that. Uh how many minutes did he play again? Uh Paul Reed. Yeah, he played 18 tonight. 18. Okay. And 12 rebounds. Yeah. That’s crazy. Beautiful. And the bench and it’s just uh it’s he’s going to get some more preseason minutes. He’s really He’s earning his spot in to get more minutes uh in the regular season as well. Yeah, for sure. Zion says, “Do you guys think with how mobile they are, Steu and Paul could possibly be in some lineups together?” Yeah, I think so. Yeah, I think it’s possible because both of those guys can move their feet pretty well, right? Both of those guys play pretty big, as big as they can. They both about 6’8. That’s probably the only downfall not having, you know, somebody 6’10 or bigger. But I think in small ball lineups, you can definitely do it because Stu is going to be taking more shots from outside. So, you kind of have that inside outside presence. And even not the three, but Paul Reed can also if he’s open knock it down. I’m more comfortable with him like 15 feet in for his money there. But they can both shoot the ball a little bit and they can both defend and they’re both athletic as far as their lateral movement as well. So I think they can definitely I think we may see some of that when JD sends down. You may see some Paul Reed with some stew for sure. I can see that. I agree. I think that that’s a good lineup to go when we need to emphasize rebounding. those guys both attack the glass and right again it like you said if they could just learn to pass it out right away get rid give give it out of their hands ASAP don’t don’t let it hit the floor again you know then that would be huge uh I was hoping for a Paul Reed three-pointer today because his shot for him is so unique I know me laugh I remember I I went to my family lives in Memphis so I went to a Grizzlies Pistons game last year uh and uh I remember telling my stepdad about Paul Reed I was like you’re gonna hate his form you’re gonna hate it but uh it works So, it works usually, you know, he doesn’t take those shots long, but he can be a very reliable three-point shooter as well. Shout out to your stepdad, too. I heard he’s a Pistons fan if he’s watching. Shout out to you as well. Absolutely. But, yeah, I I definitely agree, man. But a great point was made here, too, by Organic. Guards need to know to come get that ball. I agree. I agree with that. 100% agree. You got to as a point guard, you got to go take the ball out of your big’s hands and go get it. Outlet, outlet. You got to go get it. So, that’s for sure. But, I’m just saying he needs to be looking for the outlet. Now, if there’s if there’s nobody there, you grab the board, there’s nobody there, you know, before half court, okay, you got to get it over in eight seconds, fine. But don’t look to do it as soon as you catch it, right? Look to find your outlet. And that’s to Organic’s point, the guards got to be there to go get it to go get the ball. So, for sure. I agree. I agree. All right, guys. Let’s move on to a few more guys here. Um, it’s interesting. Total Smith is pushing Reed. We almost there. We almost We almost there. We getting there. Let’s go to Let’s see who we have there. Let’s go to Chazair. Let’s go to SPL. I call him Splash on there. splashing there. Yeah, the rookie, the young rook. So, tonight, Chaz on their guys finished with 11 points on four of six shooting, three and five from three, 02 from the free throw line, which is rare. That happened in that first quarter where everything was kind of going all right. Yeah, he had three rebounds, um, one block, which was surprising, and 18 minutes. So, what was your reaction to Chaz? Uh, I’m really happy to to see him go three of five from a three. He really started to heat up. uh feel more comfortable towards the end there. Uh the free throws were like you said surprising but it’s was that first quarter I feel like everything should just look in that because it was all off. Uh I he came out and you know with summer league he had like one good game and then he was a little disappointing. So I’m just really happy that he came out and he looked a lot more comfortable already. Um and I think he’s just going to get more comfortable. There were a couple times that I just caught him like standing still on the court, not really know where to go. I think just I think that’s just a learning thing as a rookie. So, I see the minute that he looks comfortable and confident, we’re just going to see that improve. But, he really he did his job today. Yeah, I agree. Y’all are y’all are y’all are terrible in these comments, man. Um, let’s take a look. Ryan says Chris Cross named Bball Paw jumper wickety witty whack, but he gets it to fall Smile. When I was at when I was at um the open practice, I think it was last year. I that that was really when I got introduced to him up close and I just I thought he honestly this is no I thought he was playing around. I thought he was like just just playing around like how he really shoot. I was like, “Oh, he really shoot like that.” But then it started falling. I’m like, “Oh, all right. Never mind. If it goes in, I don’t care. It’s a lot of guys who had unorthodox jumpers, but it went in.” Sean Marian. So, um a lot of a lot of guys a lot of guys. Um, Nan says, “Plash Lir is appropriate.” Organic Lindo says, “Fred Vincent lost his last strand of hair when he saw Paul Re. I was screaming, man.” Hey, that was funny, man. Shout out Shout out Paul Reed, man. But that was funny. That was funny. Yeah, man. So, yeah, Chaz was Chaz was surprisingly defensively like Pety Mack mentioned here. Shout out Petey. Uh he had a nice block at the rim on and it wasn’t the help side either. It was straight up on this guy. Tried to go off the glass. He said no threw it out of here. So that was very encouraging to see that he’s already not saying he didn’t before cuz he actually did play for defensive coach. Um so I’m glad to hear that and glad to see that with him. But that’s going to be something that he needs to do to stay on the floor too is just not just shooting but being able to defend. And that was a pleasant surprise just to see his effort and then his execution, his hops, his bunnies being there. He almost had a a putback, a dunk, too. Yeah. When the ball hung in the rim. So he got some bunnies, too. So he’s showing he’s more than just a shooter. Mhm. He’s showing he’s got more to his bag than just a shooter. Right. I think when in college, Dton Connect left uh the year before he did. Okay. And he filled in and they went to the Elite 8, I believe. So like he he filled in like admirably and was a great a great feeling. They didn’t skip a beat. So you you can see the shooting ability that he has. So it’s just great to see these other components that fit what we’re trying to do. Yep. It’s great. Exactly. I think that he was picked by Tjan for a reason. He was because they know we he knew that we wanted more shooting, but that’s not what we’re just about. We’re not just out here trying to shoot. You need they want more well-rounded players. Uh I think that JB is going to help turn him into such a force and he just did uh he looked great. He looked more comfortable and he just did what you is expected from summer league to preseason improvement and that’s all that’s that’s all we asked for and it’s just going to get more comfortable with Kaden. I just felt like he was uh again a little bit a little bit lost at times but overall much better than how we how we saw him play in summer. For sure. For sure. Mr. I said he says Splash Laneir and Marcus Splasher. Oo, you’ve been paying attention cuz I was saying that last year too by about S. I was calling Marcus Splasher. So Splash Laneir, that’d be sweet. Detroit’s version of Splash Brothers. They got to earn it though. They got to prove it in order to get that name. They got to prove it cuz you know the Splash Brothers, we know who they are with with Steph and Clay and those are two of the best three shooters possibly of all time. So, but I I like where you’re going, Mr. Mi. I like where you’re going. All right. Um, as far as Chaz, just anything everything you didn’t say, because you made some good points there. Um, I remember coach JB saying a couple days ago in training camp that Chaz is one of those guys that can get hot quick. Like he says he’s one of those guys who can come into a game and score 30 points on four dribbles. Now, we just talked about the Splash Brothers. We know what Klay Thompson did. What does he score six? What is it like? I don’t even remember. 60 points in the game on like 10 dribbles or something crazy like that. something crazy where he didn’t even put the ball in the floor at all. Just running off screens, getting open, catching it right in the pocket and going up. And basically, that’s what kind of coaches maybe he’s not saying to that quite to that level, but he’s saying he can get close. I mean, 30 points and four dribbles. It was an example, but he still said those numbers. So, that just shows you that this dude can get hot in a hurry. He is a rhythm shooter. If he catches it in rhythm, watch out. Yeah. Watch out. If a hand’s in his face, don’t matter. If it’s five feet from behind three-point line, don’t matter. Like this dude has been doing this since college. So, if he can add that defensive element that we’ve seen to his back, he’s gonna make it very like a lot of these guys gonna make it hard for coach. Yeah, it’s gonna be hard. It’s so deep. And like like you mentioned, uh just there’s multiple guys on our team that you could you could uh put that statement to of being able to dribbling. There’s there’s I mean, well, Sass likes to dribble, but I could he can catch and shoot. Duncan can catch and shoot obviously. Um it’s just gonna keep uh I mean just to have that depth whether Chaz is you know second in for the second uh uh lineup and for the third we just we have shooters man and again like if they can be go out there and shoot and deliver on the other end and in other ways it’s deadly. Yeah we have a very deep team man. Um Ethan made a good point. Is Chaz going to crack the rotation without injuries factoring in? We’re loaded at the two three. Yeah, we’re loaded. We don’t know. We’re loaded. Like, I don’t even want to call it a log jam cuz we have so many guys who can who can come in and help. It’s not like we just got guys that are just on the bench who never who you wouldn’t even trust to come into a game, right? We have a lot of quality guys on this team. That’s going to make it really hard come decision time when that rotation starts to shrink. When you get close, you know, when the regular season starts to go into full effect and then you get close to the playoffs, it’s going to shrink even more. So, it’s just it’s but it’s it’s still good to have those options. It’s good to have that depth cuz look at the Thunder. Look at the Pacers. The two things who were represented representing the the finals last year. They both had they could go 10 11 deep both of them. Yeah. Right. So, it’s just good to have that depth. It’s a good problem to have for sure. But yeah, Chaz was Chaz played well for sure. Yeah. And the Pistons, you know, they always look at the next game like most teams do. Next game if we’re looking ahead. Having that depth just means finding the right matchups. Yeah. There might be times that Chaz plays more and he doesn’t. And and it might be because Duncan, we need Duncan’s style. We need this style. It’s beautiful. They Yeah, you can tell the differences in style, but the similarities as well. Yeah, for sure. Phantom says he would turn to Bob Laneir’s son. I’m dead. That’s hilarious. They’re related though. That’s funny. Amazing. Laneir. Uh that’s crazy, ain’t it? Yeah. I need I was thinking because I mean I love our our new jerseys that are coming out, our city editions. Uh, I gotta spread out who I who I buy, you know? Man, I may have to cash out. I may I may I might crash out and get all the starters, man. I like I love those jerseys. I’m not gonna lie to you. Um, they look for sure. Uh, but I I’m thinking about some just some of the shooters, but those colors would just be really cool. Yeah. And they’re they’re unique, too. You don’t really see that color scheme anywhere else in the league, which I love. So, it’s it’s a nice nod to the teal without I wonder how George Blaha will feel about it. Because if you ever listen to Blaha, he only the teals. Yeah, I know. I know. I love to see his opinion if it’s a nice more subtle teal, right? He wasn’t the biggest. Yeah, we’ll see. We’ll see. Shout out George. Shout out George. Yes. All right. A few more guys um quickly here. Let’s go to Let’s go to Jovante Green. Didn’t play much, but he has he played in seven minutes. He had two points. Um one or two shooting, 01 from three, a board, a steal um in seven minutes. So, not too much from Javvante. He did have a nice uh I think he had a breakaway dunk off a turnover. So, his athleticism is still there. Um he’s he’s an athlete, man. He he gets off the floor with explosion. It’s crazy. And he throws it down with thunder. It’s it’s it’s he’s I love I love his game. I love his mentality. He likes to be able to make guys quit. That’s what he said. He likes taking pride in taking your heart and making you quit. He likes to play tough. He likes to bang. He likes to do all that stuff. So, yeah. I love I love the mentality. He looks thrilled to play here. Uh because he knows that we we uh we thrive on that kind of mindset. And uh that’s what I noticed too when he got that breakaway dunk. He took off. That was I mean he that was fast. And I I just was not expecting him to just like he he got down there. He he did it. And also his defense I know he didn’t make huge plays, but whoever he was defending did not touch the ball. He he he stayed in front of them. It was it was great. And I think he’s just going to have more minutes, too. Uh hopefully he’s he’s another one that’s like I want to see more of him, but uh we’ll it’s just it’s just hard. Like I think he’s going to be more so of a security blanket to be honest with you. And I think that’s totally fine. He’s more of a depth piece. If you got foul trouble, guys, if gets in foul trouble, Ron having that dog come in to where there’s no let up defensively is is what you want. That’s what you want. I remember when we had Jame Dio and he would come in and just make explosive plays just to get the team back into it. And I feel like on both ends, uh, and I feel like that’s a Javvante Green role right now is to go in and change change the atmosphere, change change how the game’s going. Uh, I I’m very excited for him uh this season as well. And I was excited to see him. I think I think we’ll see a lot more of these guys in the upcoming preseason games. I don’t thinkers as much, so they’ll have more opportunities, but uh he should be very proud of the way he played tonight. you were on fire tonight. Um, Organic Linda was just about to say, “Honey, nice.” And then Py says, “You know, ball.” I told y’all, man, I ain’t gonna just gonna have nobody on the show. I’m telling y’all, man. Like, she knows her basketball. Y’all gonna see this is game one. Wait till we get to the regular season. She gonna be on 10. She just getting warmed up just like the rest of these players are. So, just hold tight. That’s coming. That’s coming for sure. Guys, appreciate it. Y’all already know. Ryan says, “All D lineup. Stew, Ryan, Assar, Green, JD.” Sheesh, man. Good luck lineup. That’s the dog pin for sure. For sure. If I was checking into the game and I saw that combination, I would go sit right back down, man. I’d be like I’d be like, “Uh, coach, I uh I sprained my esophagus. Coach, I got to go sit down, man. I don’t I don’t feel too good.” Violations back and forth. Facts. All right, guys. Three more guys and then we going to call it. All right, let’s go to Bobby Clintman. So tonight, Bobby had three points on one for three shooting, one for two from three, three rebounds, three turnovers in nine minutes. So he didn’t play a lot. What were your thoughts on what you saw from Bobby tonight? Um Bobby got that three and I was like, I wish we had five more minutes in this quarter. I know. I was thinking the same thing. I was thinking the same thing. He warm there’s his warm-up. He got it at one minute left. Uh I know that you are a huge Bobby fan. For me, I I of course want Bobby to succeed. And for me, I get frustrated because I know he can and then I’m like, “Today’s the day. Go do it.” And he doesn’t yet. But the that that last three gave me hope, you know, and so hopefully he gets in a little earlier next game. Uh like I said, he’ll probably play more, gets gets in rhythm faster, and we and we’ll see him pop off. But uh he you are you I know that you really love Bobby, so I’m more curious to hear your thoughts. It’s it’s to a lesser extent how I feel about him. How I feel about Caris. It’s one game I’m not worried about it. The same thing happened with summer league. He had a bad game. Oh, he’s not an NBA player. He had a great game. Oh, he might crack the rotation. He had a bad game. Oh, he going to be out the league. Come on, y’all. Come on, y’all. Come on, man. We can’t We can’t do We can’t be prisoners of the moment, man. So, listen. He didn’t have a great game. I need to see more aggression from him. It’s a lot like with the Ji thing, afraid to step on toes. Like, no, this is not a time to showcase what you can do within the system, right? If you got a shot, take it. If you got a if you have the like, if it’s there, take it. If it’s not, okay, move it and then move yourself. But he just seemed a little bit too passive. And this passivity has kind of been lingering a little bit since summer league. Last year’s summer league, he was on fire. That’s when I saw him. I’m like, oo, who is this? Like kind of like with Dennis Jenkins and Total Smith. I was like, who was the third guy? I was like, well, who’s this guy? Where’d he come from? Cuz you saw the playmaking. You saw the the shot making ability. You saw the side. You saw the ball handling. So, it’s just like it’s there. I just need I need that Ron Holland to come out. Yeah, that’s what I need with with Bobby. And I know it’s there. But I’m not going to trip over one game. It wasn’t like he just played horrid. You know what I’m saying? He played nine minutes. So, it’s hard to get into a groove in nine minutes. You know what I’m saying? So, I still think he’s an NBA player. I think he has the chance to be to get some minutes at backup power forward. It’s not guaranteed though because now we got some guys who have shown they can play the backup big spots, right? So, he’s going to have to kind of show out a little bit. But, I think if he gets the opportunity, the next opportunity he gets, he needs to take advantage of it, right? He needs to show that he can do it. I think he can. So, it’s just a matter of not being a prisoner of the moment, not relying on one game and just letting it play out. But, I think he’s got a shot to still be effective on his team for sure. Yeah, I agree. that he just needs to like the confidence that what we see in him he that he just needs to snap uh he needs to snap out of it and do it. Do you think that there’s any lingering stuff from his injury? How we were talking earlier about how when you get injured there can be some mental stuff uh because he was really popping off in summer league and then didn’t really get the chance or last year you know preseason and didn’t really get the chance to play because of a long injury that took him out. So I’m curious if he’s also just mentally of like where do I fit in here? Uh, but I So, yeah, I’m curious. I mean, it’s it’s possible. It It wasn’t like he I guess it it really wasn’t like he had a role and then got injured and then was trying to find his way. Like Assar Assar had a role then got injured. Jaden had a role then got injured. So, for him it’s like, bro, just go play. Yeah. Just go play and then let your coaches tell you based off what they saw, based off the aggression, okay, pull this back. Okay, do more of this instead of go back to being who you were. cuz there was no being who he was in the NBA. Mhm. So for him it’s like just go play, bro. That’s true. Just go play. Just go play your game. Stop thinking. Just go hoop. We know it’s there. Just go do it. So that’s kind of what I think with him. Okay. Like you said, like he had three turnovers and it’s almost like you wish that those turn turnovers came off of super aggressive plays, right? So, that’s kind of what we want from him and and I and I hope that he that he gets that similar feedback uh from the people that are are trying to get, you know, get him in because he, like you said, he has potential. He’s he’s a big guy. He’s a he’s a athletic. He he can he can really do damage at the four. Uh it it is just all about confidence and like I agree with you like with Jaden not wanting to step on toes or something like he always he starts off like a little bit unsure. Uh so hopefully again he just gets going fast gets going faster in the upcoming games and just uh just go settles in. Yeah, just need to settle in. Exactly. That’s all he needs. Yeah, I think he’ll be fine though. Yeah, Doug, appreciate the super chat says, “Welcome Sarah. Got a good crew, dudes.” Thanks, guys. As Hey, appreciate you, Doug. Always showing love, man. This is going to be a fun season, Doug. So, stick around, man. Appreciate your support, bro. All right, guys. We have two more players and then we are going to call it a night, man. Okay, so these last two guys I am very excited to talk about. I have been on these guys. I got I actually started paying attention to these guys the same time I saw Bobby Clement. And the first one is Dennis Jenkins. Man, Dennis Jenkins. Guys, I hate to say I told you so, but you guys remember summer league of last year. I was like, this dude is different. He He jumps off the page. He jumps off the screen. He’s just a really good basketball player. He understands the game. He understands who he is. He understands how to help his teammates and he’s a leader. Like he has everything you want at the point guard spot. I think he’s just now getting an opportunity. He didn’t even go draft. He went undrafted in the same draft that Reed Shepard went third and then when they scored up against each other, it’s like who’s the better player? So, it’s just about opportunity. tonight. He came into the game and immediately made an impact. Immediately got a steal, knocked down a three-point from like 35 ft. Like, I’mma say it, man. In my in my opinion, Dana Jenkins should be the backup point guard for this team running with Caris Levert. Yeah, that’s what I think. his ability to be able to run the offense with command, his ability to be able to help guys get quality shots out of the offense, the way he plays tough defense consistently is something that this team needs off the bench. He’s been doing this, like I mentioned, since summer league of last year and I have been clamoring and clamoring for him to get more opportunity because that’s all that he needed. And in our episode, our last episode of the show for you guys who were here, we had his trainer on, Jeremy Hart. Shout out Jimmy, my dog. Coach Hart. Coach Hart. Yes. Trust your work, coach. Um, he told me that Dana was ready for this moment. He said they prepared for this. They put in the work. They’ve been overlooked over and over and over again. And he just kept telling Dana, “Just stay ready. Your time’s coming. Just stay ready.” So, he has always been prepared. That’s why whenever he comes to the game, he doesn’t look out of sorts. He don’t look scared. He don’t look dear in the headlights. He’s ready to go as soon as he gets in the game. And one of the things that Coach Hart used to do is as soon as they would start working out, their first workout, they would just get shots up immediately. He’s not going to be starting immediately. Mhm. He’s going to have to come in and be able to knock down shots cold. So, they worked on taking shots cold as soon as they get in the gym. So, it just shows mentally the approach that they have. So, shout out to Coach Hart, man. Shout out to Dana Jenkins, man. He played his tail off tonight. It’s preseason. We get it. But once again, you can just take away certain things from guys when you watch them play. And tonight, man, he I I can’t say enough about him, man. I’m just really happy for him because of what he’s had to go through to get to this point. And you saw immediately the effect and impact he can have on this team, especially that second unit. So, shout out to him, man. Great game. Great game. Yeah. Um, same thing. Last summer when we got him, I was watching preseason and I felt compelled. I saw watched him play and I felt compelled to then afterwards send him an Instagram message and I I don’t I’m not I’m not you know sliding into the DMs of any of these players. I I know I started off as like you’re probably not going to see this but I just have to say the way that you’re playing is amazing and I hope that you get more time on the Pistons and I I really and you know he actually responded and he said he said thank you so much. Uh, I told him I that he gained a fan and just just like you from day one, anytime I saw him in in coming in the game, I was like I was amped for him. I was like, here we go. This is what he he deserves because I think he is almost like our little like what’s the word? I don’t other team. Yeah. But other teams don’t know about him yet. Oh, best kept secret. Yeah. Because he really can. He comes in, he takes control. his decision-m has even improved since that summer league. I remember he had an interview in one of the games uh preseason uh last uh was it last year or maybe the year before, but he had an interview afterwards, but they were talking about this and he just said, “I’m an NBA player and I’m going to get into the league.” And he talked and and uh and and if any of you haven’t seen the video uh of with Coach Hart and the interview with Deuce, it’s Coachart. I I left feeling like I let a dude like I this guy makes me makes me feel inspired. The fact that him and Danis are so close that Jenkins, you know, he he wants to keep learning from Coach Hart. That’s who he wants to keep learning from and it’s obviously paying off. Uh I give them both credit. I think that uh Jenkins is a phenomenal player that co coach Hart helped build and I think that Coach Hart also deserves some some recognition for Jenkins’s game right now. For sure. Can you uh what were Jenkins’s stats tonight because got I know they were good. Yeah. So tonight Dennis finished with I’m sorry if I didn’t say it earlier guys uh seven points, three of five shooting, one or two from three 01 from the free throw line, six assists to one turnover. It was one steal in 16 minutes. So that’s the other thing like he takes care of the bat. We talked about earlier like guys like Ron on the break. You you you kind of trust him with the basketball. Yeah. Dennis has that thing on a string, man. Mhm. He doesn’t turn the ball over. We saw what turning the ball over tonight will do. We saw the first quarter, right? We saw all those turnovers. Yeah. He don’t do that. He is a floor general. He understands where everybody’s supposed to be. He sets the table. Mhm. He is a table setter who can also go get his own whenever he wants. He will poster posterize you if you’re not careful. He put you on a poster quick. We saw that dunk off the backboard in the uh the practice last year off Marcus Assass through the pass backboard. He catch a reverse 360 off. So, he’s he’s got it all. Yeah, he’s got good size. 63, 6’4, four point guard. I mean, to me, it’s not it’s not hard to me. He’s the guy I see. Um Ethan says, “Does Jenkins fit our need better than Sasser?” Sasser has more talent in my eyes, but fit matters, too. Here’s the thing, and we’re not going to do we’re not going to do we’re not put these guys against each other. It’s just evaluation, right? As a scorer, I think Sasser is a more talented scorer. Just pound-for-pound scorer can do it in multiple ways. But as a point guard, it’s no question to me, it’s Danish Jenkins. And I think we have more of a need for a backup point guard. We’ve got a lot of combo guards. We K’s a point guard. We know Ji can play point guard. Caris can play point guard. Dana is a point guard. Mhm. And that’s the difference. We have somebody mentioned earlier, we got we got a ton of two twos and threes between, you know, Caris and Ji and K and Holland and the SAR and Chaz and then Sasser. So, it’s like we we have a lot of guys at that spot, but point guard wise, it’s like Cade as far as true point guards, it’s Cade and it’s Dennis. Yep. And that’s it. Right. So, yeah. Go ahead. I just like I just going off of what you’re saying, but the stats too, you know, it seems low. If you just look at the stats, you’re like, okay, you know, other than the assists, but he, you know, they don’t count the assist, you know, he started the play, he reads the the floor so well that, you know, he on the ball mean he starts the ball movement off and the fact that he was only one one of three for three. I remember that three. It was about two feet off the three-point line. Nailed it. A buzzer beater, I think. He and that was the one also that he he made himself open for SAS. He read the form like I’m gonna go make myself open and he carries himself with such composure. I could have sworn I could have sworn they called the technical on him or someone else did and then they got rid of it or something because they didn’t no one shot and no possession changed. So I don’t know if the guys were just like hey we’re just messing with each other we don’t want this or got in their face. It reminded me of when he went off with against uh Reed Shepard like you mentioned. Yeah. And Jenkins again uh with talking when with your interview with coach Hart made me think of this but like Reed Shepard that game that we played them when he tried to take control he missed badly. Yeah. His take his taking control was I’m going to shoot and I’m going to get this game back. Jenkins is taking control is I’m going to make the best decision for our team right now. Exactly. Driven it to the floor. He’ll drive and then re realize he’s got a guy open to the side and pass it out. He’ll send the ball moving at the top. He and he looks so comfortable and you know one for three you’re like okay whatever. But like he he can really make an impact and while Marcus you know you you said it could be better offensively. I think again it’s pretty similar. Jenkins can also light it up. He’s another guy that the if he gets it going what that that sucks for you other team because it’s a absolutely eat you alive. He can him and Marcus both can take the shot back from three feet off the three-point line. Um and uh he just he looked he looked very poised. Yes. And his defense again. He wasn’t a guy he wasn’t making mistakes. He he had coverage constantly moving. He really takes advantage of his minutes out there. And uh I think the last time we talked I said I see SAS as our backup point guard only because also the media day how they talked about. But uh I think this is the year that Jenkins plays a little more with the Pistons than the Crews. I Yeah, that’s well said. The year he plays more with the Pistons than the Crews. I defin That’s That’s a perfect way to say it. PD Max says Dennis is a true modern point guard. Mr. Mar City says downtown dudes go ahead preach to him family. Dennis is Yeah, he’s ready. He been ready, bro. Yeah, he’s been ready, man. 100%. And he’s got the game to show. Like the poise point that you mentioned, he’s so poised. He’s he’s just always under control. My heart rate doesn’t increase when he’s got the ball in his hands. Nope. I’m very chill. I’m just like, “Okay, run the offense, Danis.” Like with Kate, run the offense, Kate. You know what I’m saying? So, like that’s what you want. Somebody who can just cuz you don’t you don’t need your backup point guard to extend the lead 10 points. Yeah. To lead you, right? You just want him to hold the fort down. And he can more than do that. He can more than do that. So, to me, it’s a it’s a it’s a perfect marriage. It just makes sense. That’s the need we have. I think we’re going to continue to see him do this. Like, is this enough proof? Okay. Is that enough proof? Is that like he’s just going to continue to press the issue because that’s just kind of how he’s built. And last thing on him and Coach Hart, both of those guys have been overlooked. Coach Hart mentioned this in the interview. He said, “I’ve been overlooked many times in my life, in my career, and Dennis was the same thing. That’s why they work so well together.” Yes. because you got two guys with this huge chip out to prove something which sounds a lot like JB staff in the Pistons. So, we have the recipe for sure. And Dennis is part of that recipe. I think he’s going to make a huge impact this year for sure. Absolutely. Absolutely. And yeah, like you said, coach Coach Hart is the assistant coach for SMU, correct? Yes. Yes, he is. He’s on his way to NBA level assistant coach. I wouldn’t even I would I would I would uh vouch for him. And uh oh, what’s the word? Just forgetting my words right now. Co-sign on him. I would I would want him on ours on our side. Yeah, I wouldn’t mind that either. Oh, co Yeah, for sure. For sure. Just the way that he approaches it. I like his approach for Jenkins and his approach for Jenkins was cater to Jenkins, you know. He’s not out here being like, “This is how I’m going to coach you.” Um or uh and that’s the only way. It’s like, I see this in you and this is how I’m going to coach you because and I and he made a great point about um uh explaining to players why they need to do things and that’s only going to get Jenkins and anyone else that he coaches just such great basketball IQ. Right. Right. That’s a fact. Yeah. Shout out to Coach Hart, man. Definitely putting in good work. Trust your work is a slogan. We going to keep saying it. Trust your work. And hey, we trust your work cuz cuz it’s showing for sure. All right, guys. Let’s move on to the last guy tonight. my dog man, Tolu Smith. By the way, Tulu was the guy who gave me the shout out in the beginning of the video. So, shout out to Tou man. Always showing love. And tonight, Tou did his thing, man. Tou Smith tonight finished with 11 points on four six shooting overall, 37 from the free throw line, 11 rebounds, two assists, one block, two fouls in 12 minutes. Double double in 12 minutes of action. What were your thoughts on Tou Smith tonight? uh super impressed. He he gets to the rim so fast and he’s he can stay there. He can be at the free throw line and get there fast. I what I noticed most about Tulu is his foundations that he he was boxing a guy out to like almost a a three-point line. And and that’s something I appreciate as someone, you know, who loves like the Larry Brownesque style of coaching, right? uh Tulu he he goes out there and plays smart and uh but he he just plays so well and he is so big you know uh yeah he was at the basket for rebounds he was at the basket for cleanups uh getting foul just attacking constant attack I didn’t see many many mistakes from him tonight either he really just held his own and to get a double double uh when in 12 minutes a double double when you play basically play one quarter Nasty work. I mean, yeah. I mean, wow. That’s I mean, and you know, you mentioned it earlier. I was like, I I like Paul Reed is our backup center. Now, we got Tulu deep. Again, just reiterating deep talent. So, it’s going to be tough, man. That that’s it’s going to be some tough decisions, man. Cuz you think about to he and I, like I said earlier, I told y’all I told y’all that he was coming. Too Smith, man. He’s 6’11. So, he’s pretty much our only footer, right? Seven footer on this team. That’s important. We always talk about size and not having size. We could have used size in the playoffs last year. All valid points. Yeah, we could have used Total Smith in the playoffs last year for sure. Maybe he wasn’t ready yet. He didn’t understand. Maybe he still had a ways to go as far as understanding how he played and all these different things. Fine, cool. But I think this year, come playoff time, he could be a factor. Yeah. If there’s foul trouble, if there’s size issues, he could step in and do some things. Go ahead. You just notice him out there and not even seven feet. He’s not a Chad Hong gun sevenfooter, right? He’s a He’s a big guy and he and he uses it smartly. He’s not out here swinging. He’s not standing around. He’s boxing out. He’s constantly on the move. He’s just he his presence is known. And we saw it in summer league how he just attacks, attacks, attacks. And he I and if you know Tou at all, you know that he’s just constantly improving, looking for areas to improve. Yeah. Uh, and that’s just respectful of him as well. And he’s just another guy like Danis that I hope that we get to see him more on the Pistons than the Cruise this year as well, or at least more of him, uh, in general. Uh, I hope that we can have those those kind of games that we can bring in that depth uh, to give minutes to grow. It’s funny, man, cuz he’s so chill. Like when he’s not hooping, like when we he came on the show, he was just so chill. Super chill. But he flips that switch, man. when he gets on the court, like he turns into a dog. Locks in completely. Locks all the way in, man. And I love what I love about him is that he knows who he is. Mhm. He knows who he is. The basketball and he doesn’t try to do anything outside of his scope. You don’t see him trying to dribble the ball up the court, trying to go coast. You don’t see him doing that. Yeah. He very much knows who he is. And you mentioned it. He was cleaning the glass, man. All over the boards, protecting the rim, finishing at the rim. Um, like I mentioned, he just plays to his strengths, man. He has, and I noticed this, too. I’m not sure if y’all peep this, but the connection between him and Danish Jenkins. They had a lot of connect, a lot of twoman action tonight out of that screen and roll getting easy hoops. That’s because they had those reps at the with the Motor City Crews. They played together. They know each other. They push each other. They both went undrafted. They had that in common. So, they really kind of bonded over that and they both had that chip. So, when they were with the Crews, they both want to see each other elevate. Mhm. So you saw it all night long with those two, man. It was nice seeing the chemistry they develop. Dennis looking for him, continuously trying to find him, right? So it was just nice to see that, man. But I I do think that Tou he was hooping tonight, man. I think he’s got a chance to be impactful for this team. Like he may be another one of those guys who will play with the Pistons more this season than the Crews. Yeah. So we got to wait and see. But he looked he looked good for sure. Shout to him, man. Yeah. and to be to to be at the rim constantly and and avoid things like three second violations and fouls is just huge. Um and I think like you mentioned with Jenkins, I think having him on the court knowing that he’s there and he literally finishes up gives the other guys confidence to take their shot, you know, right? Um knowing that that he’s down there, you’re getting a rebound if he’s there. He’s never you’re never seeing him advance up the court. He’s he’s going to finish the job on offense before he does anything else. Yeah, he’s got a very much a old school game, but he’s got but he’s got some offense, too. We just because we haven’t seen it yet. Like I’ve seen him in some runs in some different runs in Atlanta and stuff like that. He’s got he’s got a little bag, too. But I like that he’s not trying to showcase that bad. He’s showcasing what the Pistons need most and that is just playing big like he is. So, the the discipline, we we talked about it. He I I was telling him like and he agreed. is like a lot of guys in the NBA, they can do this, but they only need you to do this. Mhm. Cuz they’ve got guys who can do all all the other things a little bit better than you. So the things you can do better than them that we need, just do that. And he’s like, “You hit on the head, duce. That’s exactly what the approach is. Just focus on the things that I can do that others can’t that will get me on the court. Just earn coach’s trust.” So he’s doing that, man. So I’m Man, this team is so deep. This team is is crazy deep. So that’s all we got for tonight, guys. we’re going to kind of wrap this up and conclude. Um, but like we said at the top of the show, man, these games are about preparation for the regular season, right? Nothing more, nothing less. But we’ve said it already. I’m going to say it again. This team is full of talent, man. It is full of talent. There’s so many, but there’s only so many minutes to go around. That’s the thing. So, you mentioned it earlier, Sarah Sarah. Uh, the Pistons, they played 17 players tonight. Mhm. 16 scored. Yeah. So, it’s going to be some tough decisions, but it’s a good problem to have for coach, and we’ll just kind of see how things play out until next game. Anything else on that? Uh, I’m just I’m ready for next game, and I think that they are, too. I I have full faith in everyone but our starters. I’m just excited for the these guys to get even deeper to get these experiences. Uh, right. Because they they’re coming in. I mean, like Tulu, Jenkins, a lot of them just looked comfortable already. And so, just to grow on that. Super excited for it. Uh, yeah. looking. We’re looking good. Um, we didn’t even get to see JD tonight, which is crazy, right? We still got him, you know, and uh uh I I’m just looking forward to the next games coming up and then of course the season. I think we’ll be plenty prepared. Yeah. Yeah. It’s going to be fun. I kind of like want to get to the regular season now, but I know we need these games. I know we need these games, right? So, I’m just trying to enjoy the preseason that we complained about Pistons basketball and it’s here, so I can’t complain, right? So, yeah. So, we’ll leave it there. Um, so guys, up next for the Pistons are the Milwaukee Bucks. Um, in Milwaukee, another road game. I think they only have one home game. That’s the last game of the uh preseason against the Wizards. But next game is Thursday, October 9th at 8:00 p.m. And we are going to be back here, guys. Postgame to break that all down as well. I appreciate we appreciate all the comments here tonight. Organic, I see you here. Says, “Welcome again, Sarah.” Ethan says, “Great show. Sarah is fun to listen to. I told y’all, man. Told y’all she was going to be a welcome addition, man. appreciate you and I look forward to getting to know all you listeners too and watchers because I know you guys have great takes. We have just the best fans. We’re all pretty much on the same same wavelength usually. Sometimes there’s a crazy uh crazy take thrown out, but uh course of course it you know um so I’m very excited for this. So thank you very much for everyone. Absolutely, man. Dominic says Beasley and Duncan on the court together. I need that. You never know, bro. Hey, you never know, man. It’s a long season. long time between now and the end of the year. So hopefully we’ll wait and see on that one. But yeah, I appreciate you as always, guys. Ryan says, “Great job.” Absolutely. Appreciate you guys, man. So, we are going to end it there, guys. Um, talk to us in the comments. Let us know what your takeaways were from this game and then let’s keep this conversation going. But we appreciate you guys. And y’all know the drill, man. Detroit verse everybody. Peace. I got cuz when I step on the floor, you know your time’s up. I’m on my way up and I’m not going to stop. We headed straight to the top. And I know I got to waste it. I got no time to waste it. Everything we can ad
The Detroit Pistons basketball officially returns tonight when they face off against the Memphis Grizzlies in a road matchup!
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0:00 Intro
1:40 Initial Thoughts
14:46 Cade Cunningham
19:13 Jaden Ivey
26:12 Ausar Thompson
32:34 Tobias Harris
39:20 Isaiah Stewart
47:57 Marcus Sasser
53:47 Caris Levert
57:23 Duncan Robinson
1:03:56 Ron Holland
1:15:54 Paul Reed
1:22:49 Chaz Lanier
1:31:17 Javonte Green
1:34:15 Bobi Klintman
1:39:26 Daniss Jenkins
1:51:01 Tolu Smith
#detroitbasketball #detroitpistons #pistons
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Amazing content guys. Best Pistons pod in Detroit. Hands down.
Deeetroit Basketball. Nice start!
🔥🔥🔥☄️Sarah
🗣️ Sa-rah!! Sa-rah!! Sa-rah!!! 🏀🔥 Let’s gooo 💯
Tobias dunked that ball with vengeance.
I heard Cade is up to 243 lbs and it’s noticeable. Guys were leaning on him but couldn’t stop his forward progress. He dog walked guards and forwards from end to end. And he did it with strength and fluidity. Dude is smooth.
Stew looked good. I loved seeing him freely shooting the three while still making his presence felt in the paint.
Ausar’s handles look much tighter. Once he stops holding himself back he’s going to be frightening one man fast break.
Ivey looks healthy and just as fast as before. He also looks bigger and stronger. I can’t wait until he regains his feel and starts punishing teams.
Danis and Tolu are forcing their way into the conversation as viable options.
Bro they went to stew IN THE POST! I loved it
first quarter looked like a shoot-around for the pistons. Then i think JB yelled at em and they turned into the bad boys 😎
Pistons v Rockets NBA final.. feels like a possibility
anyone else catch when Tolu ran that guy over for like no reason in the 2nd half lol classic
Listen to the intro twice before I listen to the content my new anthem with my morning coffee and breakfast ☕️ 🔥 let’s go Deuce and Sarah
Paul Reed balled out. He should get the belt for this game.
I didn’t wanna watch live. I'm not going to lie, but Pistons were playing them, passing lanes great when they locked in. I still think Robinson is a Tek replacement, and we are missing Malik. This team is nice, but still missing some pieces before I can say their stacked. It's coming together, tho
Sarah was awesome! Where can we find her on socials?
🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥🔥
Good show. Just want to talk about game flow. Our starters did quite poorly to open each half. In both halves, Reed came in for Stewart and then the game turned around to our favor. We cut 7 points off our deficit with Holland and Thompson in together to open the 2nd quarter. Later, a unit of Cade, Ivey, Robinson, Harris, Reed did wonders, including excellent defense, to put us up 10 at the half. That 10 point lead got down to just 2 to open the 3rd quarter. Reed came in then, and from there it was a route by the Pistons.