Fender Pistons Still Present

All the skeptics who thought the Pistons’ defense would suffer with the new revamped offense can sit back. Quite the opposite has been true. While they score more, their suffocating defense is still around, especially when it comes to crucial moments in games.

Although they may not be first or second in points allowed, they only allow 90.8 points per game while averaging almost 99 points per game. And all of this is true even though Flip Saunders has yet to implement his entire playbook.

They could now rank in the top two in points allowed, but consider the fact that with the new offense the Pistons are running, the opposition will get more positions than they did last year. Many people don’t realize that. Just as they have for the past two years, the Pistons’ defense remains their bread and butter. It’s still how they win games. Not getting over people. So don’t be fooled by the new offense and expect them to score 100 points every night.

They still realize this is still a defensive team just with a little more freedom on offense. Combined with a good offense, the defense shows no signs of slowing down, and it is clearly a recipe for success as they have shown throughout the season. Will they win 70 games? I doubt it, but that’s another story.