Does it get any better than the No. 1 offense versus the No. 1 defense? The Detroit Pistons find themselves in that matchup as the 122-point-per-game Los Angeles Lakers visit Motown tonight.
Luka Dončić and the Lakers put up plenty of buckets, but scoring on Detroit is still an impossible task. The Pistons only surrender 101 points a game. Smothering defense every night.
Detroit’s defense has its biggest test of the season if Dončić suits up this evening. He’s questionable with lower back tightness.
It would be a shame if we’re robbed of Cade Cunningham going head-to-head with another MVP candidate. The bigger shame would be if we miss out on Dončić versus Ausar Thompson. That matchup is like Jerry Rice versus Deion Sanders with how both are operating.
GAME VITALS
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, MI
When: 6 PM EST
Watch: TV20 Detroit/DAZN-DET
Odds: Pistons (-4.5)
Analysis
Detroit hasn’t played since Wednesday’s loss to the Philadelphia 76ers. They’ve had plenty of time to rest up. They’ll need it if Dončić suits up.
Dončić is averaging 40 points. He’s shooting 42% on nearly 14 3s a game. He gets to the line more than anybody. It’s basically no stopping Dončić at the moment. This is a Wilt Chamberlain-like hot streak. Those two are the only players to average 40 nine games into the season.Whew, to say he’s balling is an understatement.
But tasks like this are why the Pistons employ Ausar Thompson. If *anybody* can slow Dončić down, it’s the best perimeter defender on the planet. Dončić usually has success against quick defenders with wiry strength, but Ausar is bigger and stronger this season. We’ll be keeping tabs on how Ausar takes Dončić’s bumps tonight. Ausar has the quick hands to disrupt things as well.
This might be a game where we see Paul Reed getting to the level and blitzing a bunch. J.B. Bickerstaff may decide to get the ball out of Dončić’s hands and force someone else to beat them. Reed is capable of coming to the level on screens and muddying things up.
I’m sure Dončić will see some Cade tonight too. Cade won’t make it easy with his sturdy frame. On the other end, the Lakers only have a few perimeter defenders to throw at Cade.
Matisse Thybulle is firmly in LA’s rotation as he’s started all 10 games. He’s still a defensive playmaking threat. Cade deals with defenders like this nightly, but Thybulle is a plus defender nonetheless. So is Ziaire Williams. The springy 25-year-old treats every possession as if he’ll never get in the game again if he doesn’t go hard.
Those two are solid defensively, and Jake LaRavia competes. Outside of that, Detroit will have plenty of favorable matchups (Walker Kessler is a great rim protector and is off to a good offensive start. He can make a difference).
Dončić displays effort and is trying to shake the terrible defender narrative on his name, but attacking him is still the best way to slow him down. Make him work and keep him involved in actions.
Austin Reaves falls into the same boat. He’s under Dončić on the Lakers’ best defenders on the team list. Anybody with that matchup should look to be aggressive.
Reaves spends most of his time covering shooting guards. Will JJ Redick make Reaves chase Duncan Robinson all night? That’s probably not ideal. Robinson runs even great defenders into the ground.
Robinson’s light-em-up stretch continues as he’s fourth in 3s made (35). Only Dončić, Nickeil Alexander-Walker, and Steph Curry have made more.
Detroit is letting it fly from deep as a team. According to Cleaning the Glass, 40 percent of their shots are coming from 3 (15th) compared to 31 percent last year (29th). Their rim rate has flipped the other way, but getting Jalen Duren back should rectify that.
The best offense versus the best defense is a mandatory viewing appointment. Can Ausar slow down the MVP-favorite? Do the Pistons show why they’re an elite defense and smother Dončić as a team? Does Cade deliver a masterclass against a guy he’ll be compared to for the foreseeable future if he’s in the MVP race? We’ll find out at 6 PM. Be there!
Projected starting lineup
Detroit Pistons (6-2): Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, John Collins, Paul Reed
Los Angeles Lakers (8-2): Luka Dončić, Austin Reaves, Matisse Thybulle, Jake LaRavia, Walker Kessler
Question of the day
What are your thoughts on Austin Reaves? He reportedly did not want to be drafted by Detroit. Does that still bother you?
