Coty Davis and Tarohn Finley analyze the Pistons’ winning streak
Coty and Tarohn discuss the roles of Daniss Jenkins and Duncan Robinson with the first-place Pistons.
Boston — As the Detroit Pistons continue to win, and go for a franchise-record 14th consecutive win Wednesday night in Boston, they are proving they are contenders for the Eastern Conference championship. Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren have been key to the team’s success, but the Pistons’ depth has been the most surprising aspect of their early-season surge.
Detroit has had several players step up throughout its 13-game winning streak, headlined by the emergence of Daniss Jenkins, who has become one of the league’s most compelling stories. However, Caris LeVert is emerging as the Pistons’ top reserve, overcoming a slow start to his first season in Detroit.
“My body is feeling a lot better, coming off a few nicks and bruises, but just getting my legs under me and trusting the process,” said LeVert, a former Michigan star. “It is just a testament to the work that I’ve put in.”
LeVert has not looked like the player who appeared to be a disappointing free-agent signing through the first seven games of the season. While appearing in eight of the previous 10 games, LeVert has taken the helm as the leader of the Pistons’ Bench Mob, averaging 12.1 points on 54.8% shooting from the floor and 45.2% on 3-pointers in 19.1 minutes per game.
“He brings a different weapon. He is a guy who can create his own shot. He can get to the free-throw line. He can score at all three levels, and teams have to account for him,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “Defensively, he is a pest. He does a great job of being active with his hands, getting deflections and steals. He does a whole lot of things to help you win games.”
LeVert had his most impactful performance during the Pistons’ 122-117 victory over the Indiana Pacers on Monday night. He scored a season-high 19 points on 5-of-9 shooting with three made 3-point field goals. The veteran wing hit a crucial 3-pointer late in the fourth quarter, extending Detroit’s lead after the Pacers had continually narrowed their deficit.
Despite only recording one steal and a block, the box score failed to capture LeVert’s significant defensive impact, particularly due to the number of deflections he had at Gainbridge Fieldhouse.
“When LeVert goes into the game, he knows that it is time to get buckets,” Ausar Thompson said. “But he also knows how to lock-in defensively. He never complains. He goes out there and gives it his all. It is always good to have a vet like that.”
LeVert’s recent two-way production off the bench is an illustration of what made him an intriguing target to the Pistons during free agency in July. A pair of lower-leg injuries to his hamstring and knee sustained during training camp significantly impacted LeVert’s subpar start.
It caused him to miss three of the first seven games. Even when he was able to play, Bickerstaff had to manage his minutes carefully, making it difficult for LeVert to establish a rhythm. As a result, LeVert began the season averaging 5.3 points on 36.4% shooting and 25.0% from 3-point range.
A month later, LeVert has emerged as the most reliable contributor off the bench, strengthening the Pistons’ pursuit of championship contention.
“I just tried to have fun because at the end of the day it’s still basketball, whether I’m on a minutes restriction or not playing back-to-backs,” LeVert said. “While I am out there, just trying to impact the game in the different ways that I do on both ends of the floor. Just try to provide a spark that will help us win games. I never think too much about numbers. I just think about wins, and that is who I am as a player.”
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