Sir Charles in Charge
Fansided

Detroit Pistons: Upend Celtics, put the East on alert

By Jonathan Macri

DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 10: Reggie Jackson #1 of the Detroit Pistons reacts reacts to a call late in the game next to Luke Babbitt #8 of the Atlanta Hawks at Little Caesars Arena on November 10, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit won the game 111-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - NOVEMBER 10: Reggie Jackson #1 of the Detroit Pistons reacts reacts to a call late in the game next to Luke Babbitt #8 of the Atlanta Hawks at Little Caesars Arena on November 10, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit won the game 111-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – NOVEMBER 10: Reggie Jackson #1 of the Detroit Pistons reacts reacts to a call late in the game next to Luke Babbitt #8 of the Atlanta Hawks at Little Caesars Arena on November 10, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit won the game 111-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – NOVEMBER 10: Reggie Jackson #1 of the Detroit Pistons reacts reacts to a call late in the game next to Luke Babbitt #8 of the Atlanta Hawks at Little Caesars Arena on November 10, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. Detroit won the game 111-104. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

The Detroit Pistons had arguably their biggest win of the young season, and the good juju is flowing in Motown. Is it a mirage, or is Detroit here to stay?

“Sir, how would you describe your wife?”

“Well now, I’d have to say she’s damn sexy if you must know.”

No one’s ever said those words, of course. You could have the most beautiful spouse on earth…but it’s your spouse. You know them. The mystery is gone, and sexy, well…sexy lies in the unknown.

The Detroit Pistons are nobody’s idea of sexy. We know what they are. Andre Drummond is big and strong and gobbles up rebounds and doesn’t shoot threes. Reggie Jackson lives for the pick and roll. Avery Bradley can knock down a corner 3 and lock down his man on defense (well, he can unless you’re looking at advanced stats, at which point he turns into a pumpkin). Tobias Harris is Carmelo Anthony if no one told him he was Carmelo Anthony. Ish Smith should never, ever shoot outside of five feet. Stanley Johnson is what he is, it seems.

Other than replacing Kentavious Caldwell-Pope with a 3 & D wing who actually hits 3’s, drafting rookie Luke Kennard, and swapping out Marcus Morris and Beno Udrih for Anthony Tolliver and Langston Galloway, this is essentially the same team as last year.

Yet here they are, with a record of 13-6 that puts them second in the East. On Monday night, they beat the first place team on its own court, a Celtics squad that was 17-3 and had won eight in a row at home. For Detroit, every starter had a plus minus of at least 11, including the man in the middle, who finally seems to be putting it all together.

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