Detroit, MI
10 takeaways from the third win against the Detroit Pistons
#1 – Jaylen Brown passing on display
As we’ve noticed in previous games, Jaylen Brown’s passing and post-up volume have increased this year. To score the Boston Celtics’ first basket, we saw a great example of this. Brown used his strength and handle to force his way to the rim, attract defensive attention in the paint, and deliver a beautiful pass to Porzingis, who was wide open beyond the three-point line.
A few minutes later, the Finals MVP provided another example of his improved passing and handling. With a live dribble skip pass from his right hand to the corner, Brown showed that he’s taken a significant step toward becoming a playmaker.
We even witnessed a slick behind-the-back assist to Jrue Holiday for a three-pointer. While Brown’s passing numbers indicate there’s still room for growth, Celtics fans can take pride in seeing him continually add new weapons to his skill set.
#2 – Protecting Payton Pritchard…
The Celtics know a lot about hunting mismatches. However, with Jayson Tatum and Sam Hauser out, Payton Pritchard has had to play more minutes than usual. Teams have started targeting Pritchard, as he’s the smallest player on the Celtics’ roster. But this strategy is harder to execute than teams might think.
First, Pritchard is a tough defensive player. Jrue Holiday once said Pritchard was the toughest guy to attack during Celtics training. His toughness, strong legs, and low center of gravity make him harder to exploit. Nonetheless, the Celtics still aim to protect him, employing some subtle defensive plays to ensure he isn’t targeted.
For example, the Celtics switched off-ball to prevent the Detroit Pistons from isolating him in the post. Usually, the Celtics switch off-ball to keep the roamer (often Porzingis or Queta) as close to the rim as possible. In this case, the approach was reversed, but the goal remained the same: protect the rim and ensure nobody gets hunted.
Sometimes, the Celtics can’t switch Pritchard away. When this happens, they crowd the paint to close driving lanes, making it nearly impossible to attack him effectively.
#3 – …so he can deliver on offense
The Celtics are willing to protect Pritchard at all costs because of what he brings on offense. He delivered another excellent performance, shooting over 60% true shooting on 20 attempts, along with 10 assists.
As usual, his presence on the floor correlated with a strong offensive performance by the team. With him on the court last night, the Celtics posted a 134 offensive rating. Over the last two seasons, the team’s offensive rating has improved by +6 points per 100 possessions when he’s on the floor (per Cleaning the Glass).
A highlight of his game last night was his playmaking. While some of his assists were simple, he also made impressive reads, such as an alley-oop to Kornet or the pass mentioned above that gave Walsh an open shot. His size will always limit certain passing angles, but his speed and improved court vision suggest his contributions could be even more valuable in the future.
#4 – Second-quarter run
From 37-33 to 59-42, the Celtics created a gap in the second quarter to ensure they could rest their starters early. After a stretch of tough games in a short period, the Celtics capitalized on the opportunity to conserve energy. How did they do it? By sticking to their usual game plan.
Using staggered screens to force mismatches and create gaps, the Celtics generated optimal scoring opportunities. With stacked screens set by Pritchard and Porzingis while Brown handled the ball, the Pistons were trapped. They couldn’t help from the baseline, as Derrick White and Jrue Holiday were stationed in the corners, forcing Detroit to switch.
This resulted in three simultaneous mismatches: Brown against Cade Cunningham, Porzingis overpowering Tobias Harris in the post, and Isaiah Stewart struggling to defend Pritchard on the perimeter. The Celtics could then pick their preferred option and score with ease.
#5 – Transition defense is back?
Last night was a masterclass in transition defense—arguably one of the best performances across the NBA this season. The Celtics not only limited the Pistons’ transition volume but also destroyed their transition efficiency.
They held their opponents to just 50 points per 100 possessions in transition, an impressive feat showcasing the team’s concentration, teamwork, and hustle. Joe Mazzulla must be thrilled with this display.
#6 – Kristaps Porzingis’ gravity and passing are killing defenses
In the modern NBA, players create spacing in various ways, and Porzingis’ approach is unique. One of his underrated skills is passing. With his size, he can operate as a hub and deliver passes over defenders with precision.
On the play above, Brown didn’t need the ball in his hands to be a threat. He cut to the rim around Porzingis, who timed the pass perfectly, generating three easy points from a simple sequence. Another example involved Luke receiving the ball from Porzingis, cutting, and kicking out to the corner—a testament to Porzingis’ ability to see the floor and facilitate.
While his passing volume could increase, the Celtics might be able to develop this aspect of his game, unlocking another tool to collapse defenses.
#7 – No new highlights in the Derrick White vs. Cade Cunningham duel
As Mark Aboyoun noted on CelticsBlog, the ongoing duel between Cade Cunningham and Derrick White has been fascinating. In previous games, Cunningham posterized White, who responded with emphatic blocks.
However, last night’s encounter was relatively quiet, with only this post-up moment standing out. With the Celtics dominating early, fans will have to wait for the next matchup to see this rivalry reignite.
#8 – Boston’s unselfishness
After the game, John-Blair “J.B.” Bickerstaff praised the Celtics, calling them one of the most unselfish teams he’s seen.
Pistons coach JB Bickerstaff said the Celtics are one of the most unselfish teams he’s seen:
“Everybody goes out and they repeat what their stars do. Jayson Tatum, Jaylen Brown, those guys could shoot the ball every time they wanted to. But they sacrifice themselves to make the… pic.twitter.com/BkUJOVAA89
— Noa Dalzell (@NoaDalzell) December 12, 2024
Last night, 73% of Boston’s field goals were assisted. While the Celtics lead the league in isolation volume, their ball movement remains elite. With every player logging over 10 minutes recording an assist, this game highlighted the team’s collective playmaking ability.
#9 – Three-point defense
The Pistons’ three-point efficiency dropped dramatically from 36% to 18% against the Celtics. After two games shooting over 50% from deep (against Boston and New York), Detroit was stifled by Boston’s improved rotations and defensive adjustments.
While early-season noise questioned the Celtics’ defensive capabilities, last night they showcased flashes of the elite defense that defined them last year.
#10 – Drew Peterson on the rise
One emerging storyline is the rise of Drew Peterson. Last night, he logged nearly 20 minutes, earning Joe Mazzulla’s confidence and outpacing Jordan Walsh and Queta in playing time.
Though his game can feel disjointed as he overthinks plays, Peterson demonstrated promising flashes of playmaking. His combination of length and handle makes him a potential connector.
His scoring remains a question mark. While he showed good touch during his NCAA career, his efficiency is limited (54% true shooting). Can he develop into an elite shooter and connector? Time will tell, but the potential is exciting.
Detroit, MI
Cold start to workweek: Flurries, wind chills fall to single digits, dry midweek ahead for Metro Detroit
4Warn Weather – Brutally cold with a few flakes possible Monday night, remaining cold and cloudy for Veterans Day on Tuesday.
Monday night: Decreasing clouds, partly cloudy skies. Low: 23.
Tuesday: Mostly cloudy skies. Continued cold. High: 38.
Tuesday night: Partly cloudy skies. Another cold overnight. Low: 30.
Wednesday: Mostly cloudy skies. High: 46.
Wednesday: Partly cloudy skies. Low: 30.
Teasable elements:
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Wind chills into the single digits and teens out the door on Tuesday Morning
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Well below average temperatures for the next few days
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More clouds than sunshine for Tuesday, more sunshine moves in mid-week
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Dry forecast for most of next week, with warming temperatures by the end of the week
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Next rain chances move in for the upcoming weekend
We’ve seen some snow showers, some clouds, and some sunshine in most locations to start the week, after the snow showers to end the weekend on Sunday.
And we’ve got a few flakes in the forecast for Tuesday before we put winter weather “on pause” for a little while!
As we work through the overnight hours tonight, we will keep some cloud cover in the forecast as we are still dealing with that northwest flow, with snow showers in our Northeastern Communities and a few flurries elsewhere.
Overnight lows dropping into the lower 20s, and expect wind chills into the teens and potentially single digits outside the metro.
We will keep some cloud cover in the forecast for Tuesday and Wednesday, with warmer temperatures starting to move into the region.
High temperatures remaining in the 30s by Tuesday, then into the upper 40s by Wednesday.
Expect a few flurries possible on Tuesday as the northwest flow continues. Gusty winds are expected, gusting upwards of 20-25 MPH on Tuesday as well.
The drier weather continues, looking ahead into the end of next week and the start of next weekend.
We will keep some sunshine and clouds in the forecast for Thursday and into Friday.
High temperatures continue to warm up for everyone. We’re expecting high temperatures into the upper 40s on Thursday, then back into the 50s by Friday.
We will bring more cloud cover into the forecast by the start of next weekend, on Saturday, and high temperatures will continue to warm.
Expect high temperatures into the mid-50s by Saturday afternoon.
Our next chance of rain moves into the region late Saturday night and into the end of the weekend on Sunday.
High temperatures in the mid to upper 50s will fall into the upper 40s after that cold front moves through the region late Sunday.
Mostly cloudy skies are expected for the start of next week on Monday.
Find the latest forecast from the 4Warn Weather team here
Remember to download the free 4Warn weather app — it’s easily one of the best in the nation. Just search your app store under WDIV, and it’s right there, available for both iPhones and Androids! Or click the appropriate link below.
Copyright 2025 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit – All rights reserved.
Detroit, MI
Second-half surge lifts Detroit Pistons to 6th straight win
PHILADELPHIA — At halftime of Sunday night’s game at Xfinity Mobile Arena, it looked like the Detroit Pistons would see their five-game winning streak come to a screeching halt.
The hometown Philadelphia 76ers were moving the basketball, hitting shots and playing with a verve that the Pistons — despite being the rested team, having not played the night before, as Philadelphia did — didn’t seem capable of matching.
But then the second half started. And behind a spectacular performance from Cade Cunningham — who scored 24 of his 26 points after the break, including a spectacular dunk over former Piston Andre Drummond in the game’s closing minutes — Detroit secured a 111-108 victory, givingthe franchise its best start to a season in a generation.
“It’s not hard to believe,” Cunningham said when asked whether he was surprised by Detroit’s 8-2 start only two years after its 14-68 season. “Even then, I couldn’t believe that we were in such a low.
“So to be here now, I feel like we’re where we’re supposed to be. We got a lot of guys that have always been big-time players, have always found ways to win at every level, and the NBA is tough. So we got here and we had to figure it out together. We were young, but now we’re getting our foot in and we’re figuring it out.”
It’s a lot easier to figure things out when your team is led by a player like Cunningham, who has backed up last season’s breakout performance — when he made his first All-Star and All-NBA appearances of his career and led Detroit to the playoffs — by leading the league in assists and putting up one impressive performance after another in the early going.
Cunningham had entered Sunday’s game having scored at least 30 points in three consecutive games and in four of Detroit’s last five. But after playing well below his standards in that first half — with just two points on 1-for-9 shooting from the field — he completely flipped things around, allowing Detroit to post its best record through 10 games since starting the 2005-06 season with a 9-1 record.
Cunningham’s 17 points in the third quarter immediately pulled Detroit back into the game after it trailed by as many as 13. And that was before his spectacular dunk over Drummond with just under two minutes to go helped in denying a late push by Tyrese Maxey (32 points, seven assists) and the 76ers (6-4).
“Man, he could get one of those every game,” Jalen Duren(21 points, 16 rebounds) said with a smile. “I don’t know why he doesn’t. But I love it. I mean, I’ve seen a lot of that. His game speaks for itself.
“I continue to say [he’s the] best guard in the NBA, so he going to make plays like that.”
Duren has also taken a massive step forward this season, with Sunday’s game marking the sixth time he has eclipsed 20 points this season. His 19.4 points per game this season dwarfs his averages from last season (11.8) and 2023-24 (13.8).
He has also played a significant role in Detroit’s third-ranked defense through 10 games, and he contributed another two steals and two blocks Sunday while continuing to be one of the league’s most imposing rebounders.
“He’s been dominant,” Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “The way he helps us protect the rim, the job he does on the boards, the threat that he is in the pick-and-roll and in the pocket … he’s a guy that can connect our group, too. He’s another guy who can facilitate and playmake, and then he’s an elite communicator, which has been a huge growth for him defensively. He’s talking to guys, always in the right spot, so I thought he was great again tonight.”
Cunningham and Duren also share the connection of having lived through that dismal 14-68 season two years ago, when it seemed like the Pistons were miles away from being relevant in the Eastern Conference. But as the league wakes up Monday morning, it will be Detroit looking down at the rest of the conference, and looking up at only one team — the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder — in the league standings.
“I think sky’s the limit,” Duren said when asked about his expectations. “I think we keep following J.B., keep working hard, keep defending, keep playing together … I think sky’s the limit at that point.”
For his part, Cunningham said that even when things were at their lowest ebb two seasons ago, his belief in himself kept him pushing him forward. It is that same belief that won’t allow him to be satisfied with only a good start to the season.
“Yeah, I mean, more than anything, my faith in myself, knowing that I was going to be successful in the NBA, knowing that I was going to do everything it took to be successful,” he said. “And I got lucky and fell into a franchise in the city that has the same mentality that I felt like it took for me to take the next step.
“So it has been a hell of a ride, man. It’s been a lot of ups and downs. It’s still early, though … I’m not above myself because we’re 8-2. I think this [success] is something that we all want, but we want something bigger than this. So we just want to keep our heads down and keep working.”br/]
Copyright © 2025 ESPN Internet Ventures. All rights reserved.
Detroit, MI
5 things to watch: Lions at Commanders
The Detroit Lions are looking to get back to their winning ways today in Washington against the Commanders. Detroit has won their last 12 games coming off a loss and haven’t dropped back-to-back contests since October of 2022.
Here are five things to watch out for in today’s matchup:
Quarterback Jared Goff was sacked a season-high five times last week in a loss to Minnesota and he was hit 11 times total as the Vikings were credited with 26 total pressures in that contest.
Minnesota took advantage of some protection breakdowns and mismatches and to their credit schemed up some nice pressure packages Detroit didn’t handle well. Detroit rushed for just 65 yards and Minnesota also racked up 10 tackles for loss.
“Sunday wasn’t up to our standard at all,” All-Pro right tackle Penei Sewell said this week “One of our worst performances and we just have to be better in terms of throughout the week communications-wise and game-plan-wise and we have to come together at the end of the day and be on the same page.”
Washington ranks 12th in the NFL with 22 sacks but their leading sacker, Dorance Armstrong Jr. (5.5), was recently placed on injured reserve. Edge rusher Jacob Martin has 3.5 sacks on the year.
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