1. The key for the Pistons? Offensive rebounding
The Pistons beatthe Cavaliers in three of their four meetings this season and the winner of each game
also won the offensive rebounding battle.
**Detroit’s strength this season has been rebounding, especiallyoffensive rebounding.The Pistons were
second in the league in offensive rebound percentage,at a rate 8% higher than other Eastern Conference
team.Detroit was also second in second-chance points in the regular season.
But againstthe Cavaliers,the Pistons offensive rebound percentage was ata rate 27% lower than their
season average.This led to 14% fewer second-chance points againstthe Cavaliers than other teams.
**A big reason for this drop was the play of Andre Drummond.
He led the NBA in rebound percentage and was second in offensive rebound percentage.
Drummond reallystruggled againstthe Cavaliers on the offensive glass,as his offensive rebound rate fell
47% compared to his season average.
His 5.3 second-chance points per game led the NBA, but decreased 19% when playing the Cavaliers.
Anthony Davis shooting three-pointers
This season, Anthony Davis added the three-pointer to his repertoire.Nearly10% of his shots were three-
pointers (108 attempts).
This change came after he attempted 27 total three-pointers in his firstthree seasons combined,
accounting for fewer than 1% of his total field goal attempts.
As Davis spentmore time on the perimeter this season,his offensive rebound percentage saw a steep
decline.It decreased ata 20% rate from lastseason,as he was outof his usual rebounding position.
Additionally, his contested offensive rebound rate dropped by 20%.
Davis saw his rates of scoring points in the paint and second-chance points each fall by 8% from the
previous season.
Davis was one of several elite big men in the league that shotmore three-pointers and experienced
similar offensive rebounding declines this season.
DeMarcus Cousins saw his three-pointrate rise 33% this season.His offensive rebound percentage
dropped by 29%, and his second-chance points declined bya 12% rate.
Al Horford’s three-pointrate rose 12% this season and his offensive rebound percentage dropped 9%.
