The Detroit Pistons are 3-3 over their last six games. They have the 20th-best offense and 9th-best defense over that span. The Pistons can flip the script against a drive-heavy 9-13 Portland Trail Blazers squad.

That zone Milwaukee ran stifled the Pistons offense. If Duncan Robinson is out again, that same zone could be in play against the undersized Blazers. It’s good to get reps in against zones now so that’s not some unsolvable puzzle come postseason.

Portland is a fringe play-in team in the Western Conference that doesn’t have a ton of quality teams like years past, but they compete and are the only team that has defeated the Oklahoma City Thunder. Snagging a win in this spot on their home court can turn this meh stretch around for Detroit.

When: 7:30 p.m. ET
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Watch: Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Pistons (-7.5)

Even after this rough 6-game stretch, the Pistons still have the best record in the East, but the New York Knicks and surprising Toronto Raptors are on their heels.

Putting a good 48 minutes together against a Blazers team that will be scrappy will keep the small cushion Detroit has intact. They’ll have to take it because Deni Avdija won’t give it to them.

Avdija is performing like a clear first-team All-Star. Besides his Cade-like 26,7,6 counting stats, Avdija is also putting the most pressure on the rim in the league. Shai Gilgeous-Alexander has led the league in drives per game over the last five years, but Avdija has the drive crown for now.

Cade Cunningham is actually 3rd in that department behind those two. It’s virtually impossible to stay in front of these guys when they drop their shoulders and decide to get to the basket.

With Avdija’s drives leading the dance, the Blazers are the No. 1 driving team overall. Their drives matched up with the Pistons rim protectors and perimeter defenders is the key matchup here.

37 percent (5th) of Portland’s shots come at the rim, while Detroit only allows opponents to shoot 30 percent (9th) of their shots at the cup. It’ll be a battle of wills tonight, and I’d still bet my money on Jalen Duren and Iasiah Stewart dominating the paint on both sides.

That tandem is a handful defensively, but the Blazers will be in for a long night with Duren if they throw smalls at him. Donovan Clingan is the Blazers’ lone big who plays substantial minutes (Robert Williams is good in short spans), and they love their small-ball lineups that feature Jerami Grant or Sidy Cissoko at the 5.

Those matchups aren’t ideal against Duren. Sure, that spaces out the floor and forces him to cover in space, but if he’s as dominant as he can be on offense, that trade-off isn’t worth it. Duren should be on his bully after his 8-point outing against the Giannis-less Bucks.

That game reminded us about the beauty of the regular season. Teams throw different schemes at you that should sharpen you down the road. The Pistons underperformed against that zone, but every game moving forward is an opportunity to figure that out.

Most of it simply comes down to this being a make-or-miss league because teams are daring Detroit to shoot. Detroit misses Robinson’s shooting and the stress he puts on defenses with his quick trigger.

Besides shooting variance, Detroit can continue putting trustworthy playmakers in the middle of the zone. Cade has the size to see over the zone, and he’s the best passer on the roster. Duren’s shown the ability to thrive at the high post, and so has Ausar Thompson when he’s thinking pass and score.

Ausar and Ron Holland have to be quick, decisive decision makers off the bounce to offset their shooting woes against zones. Teams are sagging off them, so they will have space to play with on the catch against zones. Ausar can play some dunker spot depending on the lineup as well.

Things aren’t collapsing. Jaden Ivey played a season high in minutes and put together some good hoops. If he’s anywhere close to the shooter and driver he was last year, that makes this team a whole different animal.

Caris LeVert wasn’t very good against Milwaukee to put it lightly, but he is still shooting 40% from 3 and only 60% of his makes have been assisted on (84th %tile). He can create his own shot when he’s sharp, and that was very much needed in the playoffs for Detroit last year. The 3-point shot-making off the bounce or catch is crucial as well.

Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson (questionable), Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren

Portland Trail Blazers (9-13)

Deni Avdija, Toumani Camara, Sidy Cissoko, Jermai Grant, Donovan Clingan

When do we get concerned about Cade’s 3-point shooting?