Pistons Dominate Struggling Hawks 124-109 in Atlanta

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NBA

Pistons Dominate Struggling Hawks 124-109 in Atlanta

Last night, the Detroit Pistons played the Atlanta Hawks in the State Farm Arena in Atlanta. The Pistons dominated the game from the opening tip, routing the Hawks 124-109.

Team Effort

The Pistons started off the game strong as they got an early lead. They moved the ball around and ran the Hawks off the floor. Detroit was cutting, finding the open man, and most importantly, hitting open shots. As a result, Dwane Casey’s Pistons finished the first half with 74 points, making it their highest scoring first half since 1986.

Detroit appeared to keep their foot on the pedal, attacking throughout the whole game. No matter the lineup, the Pistons didn’t change their style of play. This shows a system that the players are buying into. 11 Pistons players scored, and seven scored 10 points or more on the night.

Stanley Johnson exploded with 22 points off the bench, while Langston Galloway chipped in with 16 points and five made three-pointers. Also, Andre Drummond had his usual 23 points and 11 rebounds. Reggie Bullock had 13 points and 10 of those in the first quarter.

What Blake Taketh, Blake Giveth

What was shocking to see was that Blake Griffin only had 6 points. He shot 2/10 from the field. Griffin, however, contributed with 9 points and 9 rebounds. He also had the attention of Atlanta’s defense and he used that to his advantage as he orchestrated the offense.

That was a pleasant sight to see. So far this season, the Pistons’ likelihood of winning has been directly correlated to Griffin’s scoring. In some games, Griffin carrying the scoring load wasn’t enough since he did not get much help from his teammates. Last night, however, the Pistons answered the call. Even Khyri Thomas made his first three-pointer.

The Pistons shot 47% from the field and 42% from beyond the arc as they made 20 three-pointers. This game highlighted Casey’s long-term plans for the Pistons. In the end it helps to remember that this was against a lottery-bound Hawks team. However, a win is a win when you’re chasing a spot in the playoffs.

Looking Ahead

The Pistons host Kemba Walker and the Charlotte Hornets in Little Caesars Arena on Sunday at 3:30 ET. Walker is second in points per game so far this season, while Charlotte may be fighting Detroit for a playoff spot come April.

 

Photo Credit

The Wealth Record via Flickr