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On Saturday, October 10, 2009, I attended an open practice held by the Detroit Pistons for the fans at the Palace of Auburn Hills. The format was a practice with defensive and offensive drills capped off by an intra-squad game.
Announced times contradicted each other with 12:30-2 P on pistons.com and 8:30-10 A on the radio. I went with the 12:30 P listing. I arrived at the Palace a little after noon and found the practice well under way.
The Pistons were running some 3, 4, and 5 man passing drills from one end of the court to the other with ball boys standing by the finishing foul line as mock defenders. The players were quick, flowing, and in synch. I can understand why Cleveland’s offense looked efficient last year. Coach Kuester was supervising things on the court along with his staff, using a light, but firm touch, and instructing players, and letting the assistants help run drills. He knows what he’s doing and he gives everyone the freedom to take care of their responsibilities. Great combination.
The practice was capped off with a possession basketball scrimmage.
Then came the intra-squad game. Whites (they looked grayish to me) vs blues.
The starting unit of the first two preseason games was the White Team: Rodney Stuckey, Richard Hamilton, Kwame Brown, Ben Wallace, and Tayshaun Prince.
The Blue Team was: Ben Gordon, Will Bynum, Chris Wilcox, Jonas Jerebko, and Austin Daye.
Bynum kicked off the scoring by running along the baseline from one side of the court and stripping Kwame Brown of the ball on the other side as Kwame was starting to move in for a shot. Bynum raced down the court and laid the ball in.
The White Team then played lockdown defense and got off to a 13-2 lead.
Ben Gordon and Kwame Brown look good as a defensive tandem, who can start games and set a tone. If Kuester sticks with this lineup, Villanueva will come off the bench to play starter’s minutes along with Gordon.
Jerebko hustled and Austin Daye was making defensive plays and hitting triples.
The first half (one 10 minute quarter) ended with the White Team leading by 9 or 11 points. I forget exactly.
When the second half started, the teams were all mixed up. The Blue Team featured the small ball, 3 guard unit of Gordon, Bynum, and Stuckey. The small ball squad tore into the White Team. Stuckey and Bynum had several acrobatic layups and Gordon was hitting triples—along with defending, setting teammates up for assists, and even driving to the basket for a dunk.
Jason Maxiell and Chris Wilcox (the White Team, if I recall correctly) are a fast frontcourt tandem, who can finish at the basket. Slow opposing frontcourts will be grabbing at air trying to chase them down and stay in front of them. Kwame Brown played within the system, taking the ball to the hoop with authority when he got it, and squaring up for a consistent 10 foot shot. Ben Wallace also knocked down some free throws. The fourth rookie, Deron Washington, contributed with defense, rebounds, and a couple of threes. Maceo Baston also scored some hoops in close. Chucky Atkins got a few minutes directing the offense for the White Team.
When the game was over, I didn’t know the score, but the Pistons won.
The Pistons capped things off by having a few guys go for dunks. Jason Maxiell was one. Washington went in for a couple of acrobatic throw downs—and missed ‘em all. Will Bynum did a great one of bouncing the ball towards the basket, running after it, catching it in midair, and slamming it home.
I cheered the Pistons as they went off the court.
The Automotion Dance team came on and performed a good dance set.
I left as the Palace Flight crew came on the court to set up their dunk act. It was about 5 minutes after 1 P.
These new Pistons make me think of the Bad Boys as they were emerging. They’ll stand up for themselves if other teams try to push them around, defend, run, shoot, and score in the paint. The only thing missing is the knock-the-other-team to the floor attitude. Hopefully, in Kuester the Pistons have a new Chuck Daly to usher in a new era.
