Stanley Johnson's defense vs. Kawhi Leonard explains Pistons' patience
Vince EllisTORONTO — Stanley Johnson paused.
The Detroit Pistons fourth-year forward was asked a tough question.
Did he prefer the clutch 3-pointers in the Pistons’ 106-104 road victory over the Toronto Raptors on Wednesday night? Or did his lockdown defense on Raptors superstar Kawhi Leonard float his boat.
Johnson, the 6-foot, 7-inch mass of muscle, picked his bread and butter.
“I think the defense affected the game more than me hitting two shots,” Johnson said in the visitor’s locker room at Scotiabank Arena.
“We’re 7-6 now and we’re just trying to build on each game. With the next game we play on Monday — next week — we’ll try to be 8-6 and keep it going.”
Oh, the Pistons needed Johnson’s offense to pull off the upset to make first-year coach Dwane Casey a winner in his return to Toronto, where he spent seven seasons before being fired in May.
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Johnson scored 12 points and added two steals in 22 minutes as the Pistons had to overcome a 19-point deficit in the second half.
After starting the game 0-for-3 from 3-point range, Johnson hit consecutive threes to cut the deficit to 97-96 with 5:32 remaining.
But his defensive impact was immense.
He forced Leonard into five turnovers in the game’s final 6:35.
Leonard finished with 26 points on 10-for-18 shooting, but he was guarded primarily by Reggie Bullock before the fourth quarter.
Johnson’s efforts set the stage for Bullock’s winning basket, a perfectly executed a baseline inbounds play as time expired.
The Pistons fan base has soured on Johnson, the 2015 first-round pick under former team president Stan Van Gundy. But the reason Van Gundy passed on Devin Booker and Myles Turner that draft class was on full display against the Raptors.
Johnson can stand up physically to the NBA’s large forwards — and even centers.
He stoned a Jonas Valanciunas post up in the first half.
Valanciunas is a burly 7-footer.
“He did a good job defensively,” Casey said. “He hit some big shots, made some big 3s, but I thought his defense was his strong point.
“That’s who he is. That’s who he has to be for us.”
Johnson developing into a two-way force would help the Pistons, who face financial limitations next offseason.
Johnson will likely be a restricted free agent and teams can go over the salary cap to sign their own free agents.
That’s why the franchise remains patient.
Johnson has played well for the Pistons the last five games in a bench role.
He's averaging 10.2 points and shooting 37.5 percent from 3-point range.
Johnson was in a great mood after the game. And his performance was only part of the reason.
The team could sense how badly Casey wanted the victory against his former franchise, and the players obliged.
“I (expletive) loved it,” Johnson said of Casey’s intensity. “I was really happy we could do it for him. The fact that we were able to do it and the way we did it, with the play he drew up at the end to end it. I think that’s all right.”
More:Detroit Pistons have coach's back in win: 'This was for (Dwane Casey)'
Long break
The Pistons go into a rare four-day stretch between games with the next outing Monday when the Cleveland Cavaliers visit Little Caesars Arena.
After an off day, the Pistons likely hit the floor for three-straight practice days starting Friday.
They enter this stretch of days on a good note.
“It’s definitely sweet because you don’t want sit around four days and think about losing,” Johnson said. I can’t wait to get back into the gym and get some practice time in. That will help us shore up a lot of the stuff on defense that teams are trying to exploit with us.
“Just being home — being at home with our fans and get the support there and sleep in your home bed.”
Contact Vince Ellis: vellis@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @vincent_ellis56.
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