Detroit Pistons Rumors
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It’s only been five days since Ron Holland II’s first NBA season started, but he’s already feeling the love from the Detroit Pistons. “I think it’s been an amazing experience,” Holland told RG.org in a sit-down interview at a morning shootaround at Rocket Mortgage FieldHohuse before taking on the Cleveland Cavaliers later that day. “I’m just really getting to know these guys, getting familiar with their games and just seeing the brotherhood that this franchise has, being able to build everybody and knowing that everybody’s got the heart and the right amount of grit to help turn this franchise around.”
He’s a tenacious defender with a fiery competitive spirit and a ton of burst, which makes him a seamless fit for a J.B. Bickerstaff-led Pistons squad that’s determined to make noise in a new era. “He understands how to impact winning and what that looks like, from a guy who’s used to [having] the ball in his hands, the dominant playmaker, scorer all those things,” Bickerstaff said pregame on Friday in Cleveland. “But he kinda understands how he’s working his way into this but how he can still be impactful because that’s all he wants to do. At a young age, that’s very mature, and that bodes well for his future.”
The 19-year-old wasted no time putting his defensive prowess on display, shuffling his feet, staying in front, and forcing a jump ball against a driving Bennedict Mathurin. He also recorded a couple of steals. There were hustle plays, too, including his first bucket in the league via a putback off the glass. He wound up with just six points but was active off the ball and got three good looks from distance in his 15 minutes of action. “I wouldn’t say it felt the same as Summer League, but it definitely felt like I’ve been there before for sure,” Holland said. “Bright lights, big stage. We did so much preparing for the game weeks prior. I was just ready, and I went out there, and I feel like I gave energy and effort and I gave my team the best chance.”
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Anthony Chiang: Heat injury report for tomorrow vs. Pistons: Kevin Love (personal reasons) and Josh Christopher (G League) have been ruled out. Josh Richardson and Kel’el Ware are no longer on the injury report.
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Celtics remain undefeated behind Jayson Tatum's 37-point game
Detroit, of all teams, gave Boston the first true test of its nascent title defense, pushing the reigning champs to the brink at Little Caesars Arena. The Celtics squandered a 23-point lead and trailed with less than three minutes remaining before rallying to win 124-118 and remain undefeated on the young season. Jayson Tatum paced Boston with 37 points on 12-for-26 shooting, including 6-for-13 from 3-point range.
Omari Sankofa II: Malik Beasley: “We might be 0-3, but we’re right there. I’m not just saying that because I’m here. I’ve been through struggles in the NBA. The comraderie is there and the compete level is there.”
Omari Sankofa II: Malik Beasley on the struggles stopping 3’s in the 1st half: “All five guys, they can all shoot. That makes it tough. We have centers who are dominant in the paint, and when they spread out we have to adjust. That’s the first game we had where all five guys can shoot.”
