By Kyle Soppe
The Detroit Pistons hardly played their best game, but a big night from Rodney “Teach me how to” Stuckey led to a overtime upset of the Lakers on Tuesday night, 88-85.
The Pistons offense struggled in a 9 point third quarter, but bounced back when it counted most, scoring 10 points in the five minute extra session.
Stuckey led all scorers with 34 points, and Detroit is now 5-0 when the fifth year man goes for at least 25. All but one of those games have come in the Pistons last nine. His 20 field goal attempts matched a season, but he was as efficient as he’s been this season, with a season high 13 makes. He shot 65% from the field, while the rest of his team shot a woeful 32.9%. He made all seven of his free throws, as he continues to get to the line with regularity. In his last 10 games in which he has played at least 31 minutes, he has made at least six freebies and attempted seven. Speaking of free throws, he was the only Piston starter to earn a trip to the line last night.
The Pistons had good balance among five players, who all scored at least 10 points. Those five accounted for 89.8% of the teams points, and only three of them were starters. Starters Greg Monroe and Brandon Knight combined to shoot 1/16 for two points. Both Monroe and Knight recorded career low point totals for a game in which they started.
Monroe, generally seen as the teams best player, found a way to impact the game, as he hauled down 15 rebounds. He has been crashing the boards of late, registering 89 rebounds over his last seven. The most disturbing stat from Monroe’s odd night wasn’t the low point total, as the Lakers front line will have that affect on many players, but it is his continued lack of aggression when the ball is in his hands. He didn’t make a free throw in this contest, and doesn’t make one in 20.5% of Detroit’s games.
For the Lakers, losses like these are why many analysts believe they not only can’t win a title, but aren’t even the best team in their city. Kobe Bryant struggled for most of the night, and settled for perimeter jumpers way to often. He attempted nine triples, and the Lakers are 2-3 in games in which he eclipses eight attempts from behind the arc. He also played 40+ minutes, a total that has led to decreased efficiency for the Black Mamba. During the last six games in which Kobe has logged at least 40 minutes, he has made 58/153 shots.
The Lakers should be a team that depends on their size inside, and until they acknowledge that, they aren’t going to maximize their talent. LA shot a better percentage from two that the Pistons did, but were doomed by a 3/22 performance from distance.
Andrew Bynum is finally living up to the billing as an elite center. The big man has grabbed 220 rebounds in the last 32 days (13.75 per game) and has at least matched his season average of 16 points in 62.5% of those games. He combined with fellow big man Pau Gasol to swat 7x more shots than the entire Detroit roster.
Metta World Peace has had no luck making “World Peace” a positive statement. The aging forward has recorded three or fewer made field goals in 81.6% of the Lakers games this year.
Gasol and Kobe combined for 59.1% of the teams assists.
The Lakers bench shot 2/12 from the line.
Thirteen games on the NBA schedule tonight, who do want to see for tomorrow’s Box Score Breakdown?
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