Pistons try avoid looking past Suns (Nov 29, 2017)
DETROIT -- A noteworthy victory gave the Detroit Pistons an added measure of respect. They must now avoid a major letdown against a weaker opponent.
The Pistons caught the attention of the NBA world with a 118-108 victory at Boston on Monday night. Detroit (13-6) has the second-best record in the Eastern Conference but a road win over the team with the league's best record validates the Pistons' improvement.
"We know we beat a really, really good team," coach Stan Van Gundy said. "We beat a team on their home court who is 18-3. That was just a really good win."
Van Gundy's club will try to keep the good times rolling against Phoenix (8-14) at Little Caesars Arena on Wednesday. It is a brief stop at home before the Pistons head back on the road for four consecutive games.
Detroit shredded Boston's normally stout defense, shooting 51.8 percent overall and 44.0 percent from long range while committing only eight turnovers. The Celtics also shot a high percentage but turned it over 17 times, leading to 26 Pistons points.
"I thought from an offensive standpoint that is the best we have played all year, relative to that's the best defensive team in the league and we were able to consistently get good shots," Van Gundy said. "Even the stretch we hit where we couldn't score in the second quarter, we were just missing shots. We were able to get quality shots on a pretty consistent basis against a great defensive team. The difference in the game was turnovers because they shot the heck out of the ball, too."
Forward Tobias Harris reached the 30-point mark for the third time, but center Andre Drummond is the player opponents fear the most. Drummond scored a season-high 26 points Monday and also racked up 22 rebounds, six assists and four steals. For the season, Drummond is averaging 14.4 points and a league-best 15.6 rebounds.
"It might be the best game he's played overall at both ends of the floor since I've been here," Van Gundy said.
The Suns snapped a three-game losing streak Tuesday by squeaking past Chicago 104-99. They got a big lift off the bench from center Alex Len, who powered for 13 points and 18 rebounds.
Len was benched two of the previous three games and made his displeasure known before Tuesday's game.
"I put in the work hoping to show my skills on the court," Len told the Arizona Republic. "So when you're not able to help your team, it's frustrating."
Interim coach Jay Triano is trying to juggle playing time at the position among Tyson Chandler, recently acquired Greg Monroe and Len. Some combination of that group will try to slow down Drummond.
Triano also has a dilemma at power forward. He's trying to dole out minutes among a pair of second-year lottery picks, Dragan Bender and Marquese Chriss, and veteran Jared Dudley. Monroe and Dudley didn't play Tuesday.
"My challenge is finding ways to get Dragan, Marquese and Jared a space in the rotation right now," Triano told the Republic. "Those guys have to develop and the only way to develop is playing in games. But the No. 1 thing is to try to win. If one of those guys is going to help me win, I'm going to figure out a way to get him in the game."
