1. Background.
In December 2023, the Detroit Pistons began their worst season in franchise history. They swallowed 14 straight defeats in the regular season, setting a new team record. This was followed by a 10-game losing streak in early March. This veteran powerhouse seems to have completely lost its former prestige, and is nicknamed the "fish belly team" by the whole league.
But surprisingly, during this dark time, Detroit has seen the emergence of a new star player--- Kenningham. The rookie wreaked havoc on the court with super efficiency, scoring 30+ points per game with ease, and was hailed as Detroit's savior. Despite his outstanding performance, the Pistons still couldn't stop the defeat, and their record was finally fixed at 28 consecutive losses, which is a shame in NBA history.
Unlike the Pistons, the Toronto Raptors have had a good record in the past two years, finishing in the top eight in the East for two consecutive years. But in the new season, they fell into a trough, led by Siakam and others, the team's ranking once fell to 12th in the East, and there was a significant decline in strength. In an effort to change the situation, the Raptors recently made a big trade, sending away veteran Anunoby in exchange for Barrett and Quickley. Whether this will turn the tide remains to be seen.
100 Families Help Plan 2. Comparison of data between the two teams.
The most eye-catching players in this game are undoubtedly the top players Lang Kenningham and Federer Kessakam, both of whom are the top scorers and playmakers of their respective teams. Statistically, Kenningham can contribute an average of 33 points per game this season8 rebounds and 74 assists, all three stats are among the best. This year, Kaysiakam, who was named MVP of the league, reached 357 points 61 rebound 6The astonishing statistic of 7 assists is an important output of the league's No. 1 scoring and assists.
However, in this game, Kessakam's shooting was indeed a bit cold, scoring 35 points on only 9-of-14 shooting, and 1-of-4 three-pointers;Kenningham, on the other hand, were in excellent form, shooting 9-of-20 from the field and 3-of-6 from three-point range, scoring a game-high 30 points. In terms of rebounds and assists, Kasiacam has a slight edge, but in the face of the Raptors' multiple 20+ scorers, Kenningham's individual offensive output is more valuable.
Among the other key players on both sides, Scott Barnes is the Raptors' second-leading scorer, and his stats have slipped this season but are still at a high level. In this game, his 22 points and 8 rebounds were basically in line with the season average. Duren is the other leading scorer on the Pistons, who was selected as an All-Star Game bench with the 5th pick this year, and also has a double-double of 18 points and 17 rebounds in this game.
It is worth mentioning that the bench firepower of both sides played well in this game, especially Pistons backup guard Burks, who won the third scorer position in the team with 16 points. And the Raptors' Trent also contributed 24 points, which is basically comparable to Barnes. This shows that both teams have good quality and depth.
3. The characteristics of the two teams' playing style, the ending of the game.
The game was seen as the highlight of the Detroit Pistons' efforts to end their losing streak. They face a strong Toronto Raptors. The two sides have very different styles of play and styles, which directly affects the final result of the game.
As the "shimmer team" in the league, the Pistons have a core of rookies and young players. Therefore, their biggest strength is their fitness and explosiveness. In this game, the Pistons showed this characteristic in the first quarter, taking the lead with the fast-break scoring of Burks and Knox. In the decisive quarter, Kenningham played a central role in the playmaking and led the team to an 8-2 climax, which was also a reflection of the young players' physical strength. In the end, they narrowly beat their opponents by two points.
The Raptors' style of play is more focused on teamwork and experience. Therefore, their performance in this game can be described as "steady and steady". Siakam, Barnes and Trent were all experienced scorers for the Raptors, and their outburst of team firepower in the second half put the Pistons in a tough battle. However, it was precisely because of the over-reliance on these three core players that their form declined in the decisive quarter, which eventually led to a loss.
Judging from the results, the Pistons defeated the Raptors with light physical strength, but the latter's deep strength is also impressive, which shows that the strength of the East is gradually becoming more balanced. For the Pistons, the rookies under Kenningham may surprise us more.
Fourth, the focus of the field.
It's a high-profile battle for a losing streak, with players and coaches on both sides under intense pressure. To their credit, Kenningham and Siakam, the two young players, did not make too many mistakes under pressure. On the contrary, they played even better.
Before the game began, the Raptors had just traded for Barrett and Quickley, which meant the team's roster needed to be re-incorporated. The Raptors defeated Siakam, and the pressure at this time can be imagined. However, he made 9-of-14 shots and made 7 steals to show guard-level defensive quality and successfully carry the burden of the Raptors' game. Kenningham, who is also the number one star in the East, did not fall behind, showing his ability to penetrate and score in the first quarter, hitting key shots in the second and third quarters on several occasions. In the end, he played another climax in the decisive quarter and grabbed the victory. These two can be said to be the core figures of this game.
On the other hand, Barnes on the Raptors lineup has also been very good. In the first half, his scoring was a little sluggish, but in the second half, he scored 13 points in a row to close the score, and fully played the role of the core of the second score. And the Pistons' main player Duren should also pay attention to the fact that 17 rebounds show his comprehensive ability and is worthy of the team's reuse.
The most exciting moment of the game came in the final quarter of the deciding quarter, when Barnes scored eight straight points to tie the deficit to five and the Pistons were in trouble. However, Kenningham stayed on the fence and hit two key mid-range shots to cement their lead. In the end, they held on to the victory, winning 128-127. It was a brilliant victory with perseverance and strength.
5. Ending. It was undoubtedly a historic victory for the Pistons and the fans. Their 28-game losing streak has finally come to an end, and they are back to winning the story. It was the beginning of the Kenningham era and a new beginning on Detroit's path back to the Eastern throne. The players, coaches and fans have experienced a lot of pain and struggle during the losing streak, but they have chosen to stick together to get through it. This cohesion is the biggest capital for the Pistons to win.
Contrary to the Pistons, the Raptors, who lost Anunoby, will need to face a major adjustment to the roster and tactics in the short term. Siakam's form has risen dramatically this season and he has grown into a top star in the East, but he can't stand up for it without his partner. In this game, the Raptors' offensive firepower was very strong, and four scored double-doubles, but in the end, the shooting percentage was inaccurate and lost. It also shows that coaches need to adjust their tactical system to include more teammates in the attack.
It was a brilliant victory, and it was a sign of the alternation of old and new forces in the east. Whether the Pistons, led by rising star Kenningham, can dominate the East in the coming years will require more effort to prove. At the same time, the Pistons' sworn enemy LeBron James is also waiting for an opportunity, and the battle for the East is destined to be fierce.