Motor City Cruise鈥檚 inaugural season was also win for Pistons鈥� organization
DETROIT (BVM) — In their inaugural season, the Motor City Cruise are playoff bound. The Detroit Pistons鈥� G League affiliate wrapped up its regular season Saturday with a 118-106 win over the Cleveland Charge. The Cruise finished the season with a 22-10 record, good for the second seed in the Eastern Conference.聽
The first season for the Cruise has been a resounding success. Everything the Pistons organization could have wanted from their affiliate was accomplished and then some. One of the biggest beneficiaries this season was that the G League team was in the same city as the NBA team. Players were able to bounce back and forth, play and practice for both teams.聽
鈥淭he No. 1 goal is to make it a seamless transition for the Pistons players and for the Cruise players,鈥� head coach DJ Bakker said. 鈥淲hether they go from the G League to the NBA or from the NBA to the G League, we want it to be a seamless transition. Not just from a basketball standpoint, but a culture standpoint as well.鈥澛�
That message has reigned true between the two organizations all season long. Players such as Saben Lee, Luka Garza, Isaiah Livers and Jamorko Pickett have played meaningful minutes for both teams throughout the season. In fact, on Friday night, Pickett and Lee played 39 and 34 minutes, respectively, in the Pistons鈥� 110-101 win over the Thunder. About 15 hours after that game ended, they were starting for the Cruise in Saturday鈥檚 game.聽
There was also a Covid outbreak for the Pistons earlier this season. That gave opportunities to the likes of Cheick Diallo, Cassius Stanley, Deividas Sirvydis, Trayvon Palmer and Derrick Walton Jr. This was a much easier process than one would expect because of the groundwork the two organizations have put into place.聽
Coach Bakker has talked about how they use similar terminology to Coach Dwane Casey and his staff in Detroit. His players were ready for the moment when their number was called, and that鈥檚 a credit to not only being close in location, but close in terms of their constant communication.聽
This is nothing new from the Detroit Pistons鈥� brass. Coach Casey was a big advocate of getting the Cruise in Detroit because he knows how much it can help an organization. One of Casey鈥檚 former players with the Raptors, Fred VanVleet, is a prime example. Toronto鈥檚 star point guard used to spend time in the G League before he was finally able to find a role in the NBA. Having strong developmental programs is a very important, and sometimes unrecognized, aspect of an NBA organization.
鈥淚 know how important the Motor City Cruise and the G League is to Coach Casey,鈥� Coach Bakker said. 鈥淚 used to work with him in Toronto, and saw how he valued and utilized their G League affiliate. And with Troy [Weaver] coming from OKC, they value it a lot over there as well.鈥�
It also shouldn鈥檛 go unnoticed that while the back-and-forth aspects of the organization were great, it easily could’ve been seen as a distraction. Some games the Cruise would have Lee and Garza playing 40-plus minutes, and the next game they could be up with the NBA club. The constant lineup shuffling never seemed to negatively impact a team that did nothing but win all season long. It didn’t matter who was playing on a given night, the Cruise just kept winning.聽
As for the regular season finale, it was another hard–fought victory for the Cruise. They were able to withstand some impressive shot-making from RJ Nembhard (42 points) and Kyle Guy (23 points). These performances were nothing new from both Nembhard and Guy, as both average over 23 points per game for the Charge and have been offensive forces all season long. With 7-foot-6 Tacko Fall manning the middle for the Charge, this game was no push-over regardless of their subpar record.聽
In what might have been due to some dead legs from playing the night before with the Pistons, the Cruise were not led by their usual top scorer. Diallo led the Cruise with 22 points and 13 rebounds and Walton Jr. had 20 points and nine assists. Lee, the Cruise鈥檚 leading scorer at 24 points per game, finished with 13 points and 13 assists, playing much more of a facilitator role. It was a really balanced attack for the Cruise, who had six players score in double digits, as they were able to outscore Nembhard and his fantastic performance.聽
Sirvydis Steal 鉃★笍 Sabo Bucket 馃弨馃挩
— Motor City Cruise (@MotorCityCruise)
In what was a close game up until the last few minutes, it was pivotal plays that separated the two teams. It seemed as if every 50-50 ball ended up with the Cruise, and every fast break they outhustled the Charge. They are a team that not only has some very talented players, but they work extremely hard and will be a tough out in the playoffs.聽
On what was fan appreciation day at Wayne State Fieldhouse, the Cruise were able to put on the same display that has endeared them to many basketball fans in Detroit. Their chemistry, hard work, and attitude is one that the Pistons should be very proud of, because the fans sure are.
Cruise fans will have another chance to cheer on the team as it hosts its first playoff game this upcoming Friday night at 8:30 p.m. They received a bye in the first round and await the winner between the Delaware Blue Coats and the Long Island Nets.聽
Whether any of these guys will turn into the next Fred VanVleet, nobody knows, but the benefits to having a strong G League affiliate run so much deeper than having a couple of two-way contracts. The Motor City Cruise and the Detroit Pistons have a lot to be proud of in this inaugural season, and it鈥檒l be fascinating to see how deep the Cruise can take this upcoming playoff run.
