Pistons Report: Getting Inside
No matter how often head coach John Kuester has tinkered with his starting lineup and rotation, the Pistons have received consistent production from their reserves.
Detroit's current second unit has been especially lethal the last three games, lifting the Pistons to two victories and a tight loss to league leader San Antonio. Pint-size point guard Will Bynum has been the driving force, and the return of Rodney Stuckey has given the second unit another boost. Bynum has averaged 15.7 points and 4.3 assists in those games.
Stuckey scored 17 first-half points and 22 overall as the bench produced 61 points in a nine-point victory over Cleveland on Wednesday. The Pistons bench has averaged 49 points during the three-game span and is second only to Philadelphia with a 38.2 season average.
They'll need another spirited effort from the reserve corps Friday to challenge Miami. That game kicks off a five-game homestand, the team's longest of the season.
"The guy that's really been playing well is Will," guard Tracy McGrady said. "He's been giving us great energy and providing that spark for us off the bench. If we can continue to have everybody playing well like that, we'll give ourselves a chance night in and night out."
Stuckey has started 40 games but has come off the bench the last two after missing five games because of a right shoulder contusion. Kuester would be wise to leave him in that role for the near future. The pairing of Stuckey and Bynum gives that unit two guards who like to attack and create. Forwards Charlie Villanueva and Austin Daye spread the floor with their 3-point shooting, and Chris Wilcox is an athletic finisher.
"If he can keep us together, we can do some damage," Bynum said. "We don't know who's going to play together and at what time. We don't control that, so we just have to be ready for the minutes we get."
PISTONS 103, CAVALIERS 94: The Pistons made nine 3-pointers and forced 17 turnovers, leading to 24 points, while handing the Cavs an NBA-record 26th consecutive loss Wednesday. All 10 of Detroit's players had an assist, led by Will Bynum's 7, as the Pistons had assists on 27 of 39 baskets while winning for the third time in four games.
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