Pistons coach Dwane Casey speaks on the team's slow starts, improved second-half defense and missed shots after 109-99 loss to Sixers, Nov. 3, 2018.
Vince Ellis, Detroit Free Press
Dwane Casey brought an offense that emphasized 3-point shooting with him from Toronto. There's only one problem with the reigning Coach of the Year's philosophy: The Pistons can't shoot.
At least, that's been the case during the first three weeks of the season. They rank 27th in the league in overall field-goal percentage (42.9), 28th in 3-point shooting (30.5) and 29th in effective field-goal percentage (48.2).
That's the main reason why the Pistons are saddled with a four-game losing streak entering their home game against Miami on Monday night.
Getting good looks at the basket hasn't been the issue. Knocking them down has been another story.
"Everybody wants this really big formula but that's what it comes down to," Casey said. "We're doing a lot of good things and once we make shots, shots that we work on every day and guys make every day in practice, we're going to be OK."
Blake Griffin has been terrific from deep (45.7 percent) and Ish Smith, a career 30.7 shooter from long range, has been surprisingly efficient (40.6). Reggie Jackson (31.5) and the team's wing players — Reggie Bullock (25.0), Stanley Johnson (25.0) and Langston Galloway (16.7) — have been the main culprits in the ugly shooting display.
The Pistons went 5-for-30 from 3 in their 109-99 loss at Philadelphia on Saturday afternoon.
Casey remains steadfast that he's got plenty of quality shooters on his roster.
"My last team, we went through the same thing," he said. "Why are we shooting so many threes? We're not making any threes. At at once, they start falling. (Then it's) 'Oh, wow, we're running this great new offense.' No, no, no. The shots will fall."
Perhaps a matchup with the equally struggling Heat might spark the Pistons' offense. Miami carries a three-game losing streak of its own into Detroit and has allowed at least 123 points in all of those defeats.
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Leuer won't jump into rotation
Power forward Jon Leuer played 22 minutes on Saturday due to frontcourt foul trouble after making just one six-minute appearance this season. Leuer, who missed most of last season with an ankle injury, was still working his way back from arthroscopic knee surgery when the regular season began.
Leuer could help with the Pistons' 3-point shooting woes — he shot 38.2 percent from long range for Phoenix in 2016-17 — but he'll be eased back into the rotation. Zaza Pachulia has been the main big man off the bench and that won't change. Pachulia provides some ruggedness on the interior and is also an offensive facilitator.
"It will be matchup driven," Casey said. "Zaza is such a big part of what we do, quarterbacking, being a quasi-point five. The ball's humming and the bodies are moving with the second unit and we don't want to lose that."
Leuer is in the third year of a four-year, $42 million contract and the Pistons are still waiting to get some significant results from their big investment. Leuer feels he's ready to make up for lost time.
“It felt good just to get out there," said Leuer, who had six points and seven rebounds against the Sixers. "I feel like the last week or so, my legs have come back and I feel like I’m in good playing shape. It felt good to get out there and get some run.”
Johnson's giveaways are piling up
Johnson isn't one of the team's primary ballhandlers but he's racked up 14 turnovers during the losing streak. He had a season-high 16 points against Boston in the first of those games but has scored a combined 17 points in the last three outings while going 2-for-12 from long range.
"I don't know what the reasons are," Casey said of Johnson's turnovers. "It's not just him, it's all of us. Making unusual passes, making difficult passes and plays that are not there. We've got to cut those down."
Bullock questionable for Heat
Bullock is questionable to play on Monday due to an ankle sprain. Bullock exited the Pistons' 120-119 overtime loss at Brooklyn on Wednesday early with the injury and sat out on Saturday. He was able to practice on Sunday.
Rookie Bruce Brown started in his place and went scoreless in 12 minutes.
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