2028-2029 SEASON - PLAYOFFS - SECOND ROUND (PREVIEW) The Detroit Pistons are a well coached, hard working, no nonsense, blue collar type of a team. They have a solid starting five and play solid team basketball, with a tough nosed defense that is reminiscent of the former "Bad Boys". Power forward Shyrone Rivers is the leader of this team and although he can be a streaky shooting, when he gets hot he can be deadly. Former Chicago Bulls point guard, Coby White, is the teams floor general and he excels in just about every aspect of the game. Averaging 21.6 ppg, White is capable of lighting up the scoreboard. However, the primary offensive threat on this team is PF Jaxson Hayes, who averages 23.7 points and 8.5 rebounds per game. Their biggest Achilles heel is there poor three-point shooting. They have an excellent defense, that generally keeps them in virtually every game they play, but if their shooting touch goes cold, their lack of a real outside threat can hinder their ability to shoot their way out of a deficit. Also, the Pistons have had difficulty containing Bulls shooting guard Devin Booker and center Justin McCuthison. I don't see that trend changing anytime soon and the Bulls are the clear favorites in this series.
PREDICTION: Bulls in five.
TEAM INSIGHTSDETROIT PISTONS (OVERALL: 52-30 | HOME: 32-9 | AWAY: 20-21)Starting Lineup: PG Coby White (★★★), SG Shannon Gayden (★★★), PF Shyrone Rivers (★★★½), PF Jaxon Hayes (★★★), C Tyler Davis (★★½)
Key Bench Players: SF Josh Jackson (★★½), SG Matisse Thybulle (★★½), SG John Winston (★★★)
TEAM RANKINGS (Per Game)- Code: Select all
STATISTIC | SEASON |
Points | 107.8 (9th) |
Assists | 22.7 (14th)|
Rebounds | 45.9 (4th) |
Points Allowed | 103.1 (6th) |
Blocks | 7.4 (4th) |
Steals | 9.1 (19th)|
Field Goal % | .466 (5th) |
Three Point % | .314 (25th)|
Free Throw % | .795 (10th)|
Offensive Rating | 108.0 (8th) |
Defensive Rating | 102.8 (4th) |
Net Rating | 5.2 (4th)|
Power Ranking | (5th) |
NBA Top 50 Players: None
STAFF: GM Jimmie Black, HC Jason Thompson, AC1 Sidney Lowe, AC2 Greg Leatherman and AC3 Richard Cotton
(Payroll $175,689,585 (22nd Highest) / CAP Space $4,310,415 / Luxury Tax $0)
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CHICAGO BULLS (OVERALL: 71-1 | HOME: 39-2 | AWAY: 32-9)Starting Lineup: PG D'Angelo Russell (★★★½), SG Devin Booker (★★★½), SF Jayson Tatum (★★★★), PF Ryan Jefferson (★★★½), C Justin McCuthison(★★★½)
Key Bench Players: PF Marcue Jones (★★★), PG Tony Carr (★★★), SF Miles Bridges (★★½)
TEAM RANKINGS (Per Game)- Code: Select all
STATISTIC | SEASON |
Points | 118.5 (1st) |
Assists | 24.4 (5th) |
Rebounds | 47.1 (2nd) |
Points Allowed | 106.5 (20th)|
Blocks | 7.7 (3rd) |
Steals | 9.1 (19th)|
Field Goal % | .484 (4th) |
Three Point % | .370 (1st) |
Free Throw % | .790 (12th)|
Offensive Rating | 115.6 (2nd) |
Defensive Rating | 103.9 (7th) |
Net Rating | 11.7 (1st) |
Power Ranking | (1st) |
NBA Top 50 Players: SF Jayson Tatum, SG Devin Booker, C Justin McCuthison
STAFF: GM Troy Dalton, HC Brian Starks, AC1 Byron Scott, AC2 Rod Barnes, AC3 Whitney Wilkerson
(Payroll $217,946,933 (10th Highest) / CAP Space $-37,946,933 / Luxury Tax $2,946,933)
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