Detroit, MI

10 takeaways from the third win against the Detroit Pistons

Published

11 months ago

December 13, 2024

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
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— 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.

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Detroit, MI

Detroit schools among 68 in Michigan released from state oversight

Published

13 hours ago

November 20, 2025

Press Room

Detroit schools among 68 in Michigan released from state oversight

(FOX 2) – More than 60 Michigan schools will be released from state oversight after meeting graduation and performance-based benchmarks set by the education department.

Included in the list of 68 schools that no longer need help from the state are 24 Detroit schools, according to a news release from the Michigan Department of Education.

Big picture view:

Schools in Detroit, Warren, Melvindale, Oak Park, Highland Park, and Madison Heights make up just some of the Southeast Michigan school districts no longer in need of oversight and support from the state.

The release from state monitoring includes 23 schools under the Detroit Public Schools Community District. Another six Detroit schools will also no longer be identified for specialized targeted support.

In total, there are 68 schools that will be released from oversight. There are still 113 schools that will fall under the umbrella for Comprehensive Support and Improvement (CSI).

Michigan Oversight Eligibility

Schools are identified as needing Comprehensive Support and Improvement when they meet one of the following criteria:

The school is in the bottom 5% of schools in Michigan
Is a high school with a four-year graduation rate of 67% or less
The school was in a CSI cohort but did not meet CSI exit criteria
The school was in an ATS cohort but did not meet ATS exit criteria and so supports are elevated to CSI

There is another category for state support called Targeted Support and Improvement. The eligibility criteria for that program includes:

Schools having at least one student group (such as a racial group, economically disadvantaged students, or students with disabilities) performing in the bottom 25% of each of the school’s components on the Michigan School Index.
Identified annually

The backstory:

Schools are determined to need state support through the Michigan School Index, which is a requirement from the federal government that states maintain some sort of school accountability system.

The program is used to identify schools that are in need of additional support to help students perform better. Academic outcomes, attendance, and graduation rates are some of the parameters the state measures for signs of improvement.

Schools may leave the state program if they no longer meet the criteria that made them eligible in the first place, like math and English proficiency over two years.

Catching up:

According to the 2023-24 results, there were slight gains among Michigan’s schools.

Of the 3,324 public schools in Michigan, 113 were identified for state support – about 3.4% of all schools in the state. That includes 57 districts entering partnership agreements with MDE, which means they will get specialized support.

“I am very pleased to see that 68 schools—including 33 out of 98 schools that were in partnership agreements with MDE—no longer require additional supports from the department because of the hard work by local district and intermediate school district staff, children, parents, community members and MDE employees,” said Interim State Superintendent Dr. Sue C. Carnell.

Schools no longer under oversight

There are 68 schools that will no longer use the CSI program for state help:

Academy for Business and Technology High School, Melvindale
Academy of Warren
Barack Obama Leadership Academy, Detroit
Beecher High School (Beecher Community School District)
Fair Plain East Elementary School (Benton Harbor Area Schools)
Buchanan Virtual Academy (Buchanan Community Schools)
Detroit Academy of Arts and Sciences (Detroit Public Schools Community District)
Detroit Leadership Academy K-8 (Detroit Public Schools Community District)
Ann Arbor Trail Magnet School (Detroit Public Schools Community District)
Blackwell Institute (Detroit Public Schools Community District)
Bunche Preparatory Academy (Detroit Public Schools Community District)
Burns Elementary-Middle School (Detroit Public Schools Community District)
Carver STEM Academy (Detroit Public Schools Community District)
Central High School (Detroit Public Schools Community District)
Cooke STEM Academy (Detroit Public Schools Community District)
Davis Aerospace Technical High School at Golightly (Detroit Public Schools Community District)
Frederick Douglass Academy for Young Men (Detroit Public Schools Community District)
Garvey Academy (Detroit Public Schools Community District)
Henderson Academy (Detroit Public Schools Community District)
J.E. Clark Preparatory Academy (Detroit Public Schools Community District)
Mackenzie Elementary-Middle School (Detroit Public Schools Community District)
Marquette Elementary-Middle School (Detroit Public Schools Community District)
Martin Luther King Jr. Senior High School (Detroit Public Schools Community District)
Noble Elementary-Middle School (Detroit Public Schools Community District)
Nolan Elementary-Middle School (Detroit Public Schools Community District)
Palmer Park Preparatory Academy (Detroit Public Schools Community District)
Priest Elementary-Middle School (Detroit Public Schools Community District)
Pulaski Elementary-Middle School (Detroit Public Schools Community District)
Wayne Elementary School (Detroit Public Schools Community District)
Oak Park Service Learning Academy
Pleasantview Elementary School (East Pointe Community Schools)
FlexTech High School, Brighton
Eisenhower School (Flint Community Schools)
George Washington Carver Elementary School, Highland Park
Ottawa Hills High School (Grand Rapids Public Schools)
Dickinson West Elementary School (Hamtramck Public Schools)
International Academy of Flint
John R. Lewis Elementary School (Jackson Public Schools)
Joy Preparatory Academy, Detroit
Washington Writers’ Academy (Kalamazoo Public Schools)
KEYS Grace Academy, Madison Heights
Gardner International Magnet School (Lansing School District)
Lyons School (Lansing School District)
Mt. Hope School (Lansing School District)
Wexford Montessori Academy (Lansing School District)
Mildred C. Wells Academy, Benton Harbor
Multicultural Academy, Ann Arbor
Oakland FlexTech High School, Farmington Hills
Woodrow Wilson Elementary School (Port Huron Area School District)
Saginaw Preparatory Academy
Arthur Eddy Academy (Saginaw Public Schools)
Jessie Loomis School (Saginaw Public Schools)
Westfield Preparatory High School, Redford

There are also schools that will exit additional targeted support:

Burton Glen Charter Academy
Bow Elementary-Middle School (Detroit Public Schools Community District)
Detroit International Academy for Young Women (Detroit Public Schools Community District)
Munger Elementary-Middle School (Detroit Public Schools Community District)
Spain Elementary-Middle School (Detroit Public Schools Community District)
Dove Academy of Detroit
Hamilton Virtual School (Hamilton Community Schools)
Tyrone Elementary School (Harper Woods School District)
Holt Junior High School (Holt Public Schools)
Michigan Collegiate Middle/High School, Roseville
New Paradigm College Prep, Detroit
Parchment Middle School (Parchment School District)
Beech Elementary School (Redford Union Schools)
Grogan Elementary School (Southgate Community Schools)
Clarence Randall Elementary School (Taylor School District)

The Source: A news release from the Michigan Department of Education.

EducationMichigan

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Detroit, MI

Thompson: Detroit Riverfront Conservancy leadership has a lot to prove

Published

1 day ago

November 19, 2025

Press Room

Thompson: Detroit Riverfront Conservancy leadership has a lot to prove

Recent revelations that the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy, which has been one of the city’s premier jewels, is making major changes, after a massive corruption scandal that took its former chief financial officer William Smith to jail for embezzling $44.3 million is good news.

The internal financial controls the conservancy is putting in place, including periodic independent audits, is necessary, considering this public body has been the recipient of millions of dollars in taxpayer money as well as private funding over the years.

No one should provide an excuse for how the conservancy was running its finances under Smith. Yes, Smith was the culprit but the blame should also be placed on everyone who had collective and overall fiduciary responsibility of the organization. The nonprofit should recognize they dropped the ball as a whole and then move forward in a way that instills public trust so it continues to draw support to beautify the riverfront.

The reduction of its board seat to 30 members from 50 is a good sign. Organizations with that many board members sometimes are bogged down in unnecessary bureaucracy which slows swift decision-making and can lead to less engagement from those who oversee the agency. Some members may feel sidelined because the major decisions often are made by an executive committee.

In the wake of the riverfront conservancy scandal, some board members reached out to me privately about their own take of events that led to how they believed Smith was running a fraudulent scheme that siphoned millions of dollars, the largest in the region’s history of public corruption scandals.

For example, one particular board member during a Saturday breakfast meeting told me he was actually not surprised about what happened with Smith because some of them were hardly engaged with the internal activities, especially the financial direction of the group. It was known to most members that only a few people were running the conservancy and that some board members felt like their role was simply ceremonial.

It looked good on a professional resume to be a member of the board of directors of the conservancy. Some of the individuals who were chosen for the board reveled only in the association instead of the responsibilities that came with the title. They knew that being on the board gave them some social capital and allowed them to be in the company of some of the region’s most influential individuals.

The group must also rethink how it selects board members as well. Simply choosing who has a bigger title in this town should no longer be the qualifier. It should be made up individuals with a deep and profound commitment to the concept and mission of making the riverfront one of the best in the nation.

The new leadership of the conservancy under CEO Ryan Sullivan has a lot to prove over the next couple of years beyond the issuance of press releases that promise strong changes and a new direction. People want to see that change is not only promised but is self-evident and that this much celebrated institution will continue to serve Detroiters and the region.

The financial scandal was not only a black eye on the organization itself, but also the city. Organizations like the Detroit Riverfront Conservancy must be exemplary in their conduct and this corruption saga must never happen again.

X (formerly Twitter): @BankoleDetNews

bankole@bankolethompson.com

Bankole Thompson’s columns appear on Mondays and Thursdays in The Detroit News.

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Detroit, MI

Tensions rise as anti-Islam protestors clash with Muslim community activists in Dearborn

Published

2 days ago

November 19, 2025

Press Room

Tensions rise as anti-Islam protestors clash with Muslim community activists in Dearborn

Heath Kalb

November 19, 2025 / 12:21 AM EST
/ CBS Detroit

Anti-Islam demonstrators clashed with counter-protestors on Tuesday in Dearborn as a group of a few dozen marched toward city hall, shouting Islamophobic rhetoric.

“How are they coming to us and saying we’re all about division and all about Sharia Law. They’re coming here and giving us nothing but hatred,” said Ali Aljahmi, from Dearborn.

CBS News Detroit was at the scene along Michigan Avenue, where the dueling demonstrations stemmed from when Michigan Republican gubernatorial candidate Anthony Hudson falsely claimed that there was Sharia Law in Dearborn. He later walked back those statements.

“If we’re going to bring these people together, then we’re going to lead by example and come down here, put boots on the ground and walk with these people and show that we can come together,” Hudson told CBS Detroit.

Hudson led a march with supporters of his advocating for his slogan ‘Fix Michigan,” but it was another group of demonstrators, not condoned by Hudson, on that same route that stirred the pot.” Other people in the crowd included Jake Lang, a Republican who is running for a U.S. Senate seat in Florida. Lang was charged with assaulting an officer, civil disorder and other crimes in connection with the Jan. 6 riot before he was pardoned by President Trump.

CBS News Detroit was at the scene when Lang threatened to burn a Quran and taunt counter-protestors with bacon.

Dearborn police kept an eye on the protests and urged people to engage with demonstrators. One person was seen being led away in handcuffs. It’s unknown if that person will face charges.

Some protestors said they hope what happened on Tuesday sheds some light on what they call hateful demonstrations from people outside of Dearborn who are mischaracterizing the city.

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