Ku Khahil here, the host of the daily Locked On Pistons podcast, with your daily Locked On Pistons newsletter. Each day we bring you the biggest stories about the Pistons and the NBA, including the hottest links to other stories you need to read. Plus, Josh Lloyd delivers daily fantasy notes to crush your league.
League at Large
We could watch Thunder-Cavs in perpetuity
Jan 14, 2025; Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA; Oklahoma City Thunder guard Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (2) drives for a shot past Philadelphia 76ers forward Guerschon Yabusele (28) during the third quarter at Wells Fargo Center. | Bill Streicher/Bill Streicher-Imagn Images
Wouldn’t it be wonderful if the rest of the NBA season could just be various instances spent listening to Shai Gilgeous-Alexander go WOOOO to varying decibels and degrees of excitement? It would be, to borrow from a master gone too soon, Lynchian.
If not that, then to watch the Thunder and Cavaliers play each other, over and over, until April 13th. I suspect we still wouldn’t have our fill of these two teams but don’t fret, we’d have a riveting seven game series. Each game a competitive and tight feast for the eyes.
To really get an understanding of how, though relentless pressuring and seamless switching, the Thunder have run away with the first overall defensive rating. That even against a team like Cleveland who pride themselves on the way they’re able to take care of the ball, and their communication skills, OKC can pluck the ball out of the hands of an opponent on a fastbreak, a drive, as if they were walking right up to a kid and taking candy from their hands.
Of course, this all makes it sound like watching these two teams in perpetuity is going to look heavily lopsided for the Thunder. The matchup last night was a wallop for the West, for sure, but Cleveland showed why they’ve been coolly leading the East and the entire league. Rainbow threes from Mitchell, light lobs over the heads of every Thunder player — just then upturned to watch — between Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen, and fadeaway shots from the corner care of Max Strus.
Katie Heindl is a credentialed NBA and WNBA writer, her bylines have appeared with The New York Times Magazine, SLAM, The Athletic, Yahoo Sports, Dime, Rolling Stone, among others. She writes the bestselling Substack, Basketball Feelings and is working on a book of the same name.
Home and Away
Ranking Despite recent performances, the Detroit Pistons’ position in the latest NBA power rankings highlights areas for improvement. Check out the full evaluation and how they measure up against other teams here. (Bleacher Report)
Trade With the trade deadline looming, the Pistons have several dream and realistic targets. Potential moves could significantly impact the roster. Explore the full list of targets here. (Bleacher Report)
Fantasy Basketball News Roundup: The Tanking In Utah
Jan 11, 2025; Phoenix, Arizona, USA; Utah Jazz forward Lauri Markkanen (23) looks on against the Phoenix Suns during the first half at Footprint Center. Mandatory Credit: Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images | Joe Camporeale/Joe Camporeale-Imagn Images
The Utah Jazz and Portland Trail Blazers are taking tanking to a whole new level. The Jazz have been sitting players like John Collins, Lauri Markkanen, and Walker Kessler for various reasons. While I understand the incentives for tanking, the odds of getting the number one pick are not high. The NBA has been cracking down on teams resting healthy players, but these two franchises seem to be pushing the boundaries.
As a fantasy analyst, I’ve been advising people to avoid high picks from these teams due to the risk of shutdowns and reduced playing time. It’s frustrating to see this level of blatant tanking, especially when it impacts fantasy basketball managers.
The Memphis Grizzlies are another team to watch, with Ja Morant constantly appearing on the injury report. While they’re not tanking like Utah and Portland, Morant’s frequent injuries are concerning for fantasy managers.
In other news, Donte DiVincenzo is out with a toe sprain for the Knicks, which could lead to increased minutes for Mike Conley. However, I wouldn’t rush to add Conley in most leagues.
Don’t let these episodes pass you by — stay locked in with the latest Locked On Pistons podcasts.
Detroit Pistons Success Forcing POBO Trajan Langdon To Re-Evaluate Immediate Plan Can the Detroit Pistons maintain their surprising momentum in the NBA? With unexpected success this season, the Pistons are turning heads, and fans are buzzing about their potential playoff run. This episode dives into the Detroit Pistons’ impressive performance, exploring potential trade strategies and the impact of key players like Cade Cunningham and Tobias Harris. Discover how veteran players have stepped up in Jaden Ivey’s absence, and why Cunningham is being touted as a future All-Star.
Cade Cunningham’s All-NBA Potential for Detroit Pistons After Defeating New York Knicks Cade Cunningham dazzles as the Detroit Pistons secure a thrilling victory over the New York Knicks at Madison Square Garden. With Cunningham’s All-NBA level performance, the Pistons are making waves in the basketball world. Can this momentum propel them into a deep playoff run?
Explore how Isaiah Stewart’s defensive prowess and Malik Beasley’s shooting brilliance reshaped the Pistons’ strategy.
Detroit Pistons’ Trade Deadline: Will Cade Cunningham Influence Moves? Can the Detroit Pistons make a splash at the trade deadline? With Cade Cunningham’s standout performances and the team’s unexpected success, the Pistons are poised for strategic moves that could reshape their season. This episode features insights from Hunter Patterson, a beat writer for The Athletic, who shares insider perspectives on the Pistons’ locker room dynamics and the impact of head coach JB Bickerstaff’s unique approach. Discover how the young roster, including players like Jaden Ivey and Ausar Thompson, is evolving under Bickerstaff’s leadership.
