Pistons pour it on late in 115-89 rout of Magic

Andre Drummond flashed a birthday smile through his braces. The blowout wins have been rare, but this one had a special flare to it. “We have to find a way to get back to playing the way we were playing – better defensively, having more fun out there”. Although he’d had two decent game of seven points each in his first two games. A healthy Brandon Jennings is such an asset for the Pistons, as he can single handedly take over a game.

“When a guy does all the little things, when he’s battling back and you see him fighting each and every day, it’s something special and you just enjoy seeing him have a moment like this”, said Jackson, who had 14 points and seven assists. With Jennings coming off the bench, the Pistons have a bench that can keep them in games.

Jackson now has a long-term contract with Detroit, so the Pistons are obviously committed to him.

But that likely won’t be the case.

“I’ve said all along, our plan right now is that Brandon can help us make a playoff push, and that’s what we’re going to do, ” Van Gundy said. “We were sharing the ball and making it look easy…”

Well, almost. At least for the time being, he’s a Piston.

Monday marked his best performance of the four games he has played since returning from the injury.

“You never have too many good players”, Van Gundy said.

Since the 2011-12 season, Jennings has been very good offensively. Brandon does a lot for our team, even besides what he does on the court. The Pistons’ last four losses have all come against Eastern Conference opponents, and Saturday’s 82-point effort matched a season low. And then when I’m a free agent this summer, I hope to sign back with Detroit and try to make this a long-term home for my family and me. I like Brandon. I’m a big Reggie fan, too. “We didn’t put him back out there, I don’t think, until he felt comfortable to go”. Jennings has looked explosive on the offensive end, which is what the second unit has desperately needed.

Though Jennings play time was small his production on the floor was solid as the guard posted 17 points on 5-for-9 shooting and 3-for-4 from the three-point line. “He continuously pushed the pace. They strived because of what he was able to do”. “It’s not about who should start”, Jennings said.

“We all know what he could do. Everybody wants us to get to the playoffs – and that’s the main goal”. Experts and insiders were of the opinion that Jennings is headed towards New York Knicks. He can contribute to the team but are the Pistons satisfied with that? “He’s gone 6-for-18 from the field and only 2-for-10 from behind the arc, but has shown flashes of his old self – getting to the rim, going 3-for-6 at the basket coming into Monday nights matchup”. The Pistons just kept laying it on again and again. “This was a really bad road trip for us as a team”.

Drummond piled up 15 points and eight rebounds by halftime as the Pistons led 57-47.