Pistons Win Ugly?

Go figure out a game from looking at the box score.

Against Portland, the Pistons shot 43% and were way outrebounded, but won a close game. It was steals and Portland turnovers, and a third quarter comeback that gave Detroit an advantage.

Against Phoenix the night before, the Pistons shot 53%, way outrebounded the Suns, but faded in the second and especially third quarter. Billups posting Steve Nash seemed like an obvious idea which worked while the Dodger was awake and watching? How did they get down to Phoenix, needing a 37 point 4th quarter to win?

Common to both games was Billups shooting the three. Pistons free throw shooting seems way improved.

The second unit beyond McDyess is still not putting much on the board, although Evans is getting decent rebounds from the 2. One game out of 6 the opponent got out of the 80's.

Obviously a way better start than last year. Larry Brown v. Flip Saunders is undecided because the players are different. Evans plusses Hunter as first into the 1-2-3 rotation, McDyess is starting faster.