NBA Notes: Pistons, Dwane Casey, Lakers, Cavs, Cedi Osman

Pistons

Coach Dwane Casey said the first preseason game against the Knicks was quite a learning experience.

“A lot of great teaching points for us,” Casey said, via Mike Curtis of the Detroit News. “New York’s a very physical team for us. It was exactly what we needed to get our guys’ attention.”

Casey then spoke about the rotations, and what you see in the first preseason game is bound to be different than the first game of the regular season. Or perhaps even the second game of the preseason.

“Size factor with the first unit, but they didn’t really hurt us on the boards,” Casey said, in explaining the differences between the first and second units, via Curtis. “We out-rebounded them but just the physicality and size and deterrent at the rim with the first unit, we didn’t have.

“The second unit we had (Marvin Bagley III) and (Jalen Duren) so we had a little bit more size. So, that was the difference in the two units. Even the first unit, New York kept us from doing what we wanted to do offensively just because of the aggressiveness and physicality.”

Lakers

Paul Pierce doubled down on his Lakers prediction, saying he doesn’t foresee the team being much better this season than it was last.

“I don’t even think the Lakers are going to be a top-eight seed,” Pierce said on the Showtime Basketball podcast with Kevin Garnett.

This followed other low Lakers expectations made by Pierce.

“I’m not seeing the Lakers as a legit contender,” Pierce said on the podcast, via Brad Sullivan of Lakers Daily. “For one, (LeBron James) is a year older. Yeah, he averaged 30, but how much longer can he do that? And now you’re gonna put that pressure on him at the age of 37, 38 to go out there and help carry (Anthony Davis)? He can’t stay healthy. But then who the other moving pieces? Who your role players?”

Pierce speaks the truth on James, who turns 38 in December. But James did more than just score. Along with averaging 30.3 points, he tallied 8.2 rebounds and 6.2 assists last season.

Cavaliers

• In case you missed it, the Cavs aren’t worried that Evan Mobley will miss the start of the regular season with his ankle injury. “Not now,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. Read the full post here.
• In case you missed it, Part II: Dylan Windler is also out with an ankle injury. Interestingly, Windler missed just two games his entire high school and college career, but has struggled staying healthy as a pro.
• It does not seem as if a Cedi Osman-for-Jae Crowder swap with the Suns will happen anytime soon, as we relayed right here.