Pistons GT vs. Pacers Gaming Recon Report

by Aaron Fox

Pistons GT will face off with Pacers Gaming tonight, their third and fourth meetings of the season. Back in week six the two teams split their midseason matchups, but this evening’s games mean a little more. A single win for Pacers Gaming means securing the second seed in the West, locking up a first-round bye in the process. On the other hand, two wins for Pistons GT puts Detroit in prime position to claim a playoff bid of their own.

Ramo and co. are coming off of a 3-1 week nine, defeating Bucks Gaming twice and splitting versus Cavs Legion GC most recently. Both Radiant (27ppg-11.5apg) and Ramo (14ppg-12.5rpg) averaged double-doubles in the two-game set, but the team ultimately couldn’t come away with what would have been an important sweep.

 

Player of the Game: Ramo (14ppg-12.5rpg-1.0bpg-1.0spg)

• Game One: Pistons GT def. Cavs Legion GC, 81-78
• Game Two: Cavs Legion GC def. Pistons GT, 94-69

Unfortunately, last week also marked the end of Cooks’ season four with Pistons GT. In 10 regular season starts, Cooks posted averages of 19.1 points and 1.9 assists per game on 57.4% shooting. He excelled from beyond the arc, knocking down 56% of his shots from three-point range on 4.9 makes per game (not to mention 2 game-winners). The only full-time shooting guards in the league to average more than 19.1 points per game: Rigby (22.6ppg), BSmoove (20.2ppg), and OriginalMalik (19.6ppg). Not bad for an undrafted free agent.

Cooks’ departure means Greenlight’s return, and yet another new lineup for Pistons GT. This will be the seventh different combination of players that Detroit has put together during season four.

 

Key Matchup

Greenlight vs. Swizurk

Greenlight’s addition comes as Pistons GT prepares to earn a playoff bid and go on a postseason run. During his absence we saw both Charger and Cooks fill the void at shooting guard, but tonight Greenlight will finally make his long-awaited return to the lineup.

In six starts at point guard earlier this season, Greenlight averaged 26.7 points and 9.8 assists per game, including 52% shooting from the field and three total double-doubles. His role will be different this time around, slotted next to Radiant as the off-guard.

For Swizurk, the longtime Pacers Gaming shooting guard has been quietly very efficient this year. The overall scoring numbers are down (13.5ppg) but Swizurk is enjoying improvements in his shooting percentages across the board: 55% from the field and 55% from three-point range are 6% and 14% increases compared to season three.

This matchup will be a battle between the new-age combo guard and old-school sharpshooter. Both squads feature dominant scoring point guards in Radiant and 630. How much production comes from each of their secondary options in Greenlight and Swizurk could prove to be tonight’s X-Factor.

 

Lineups

Pistons GT (13-11)

• PG Radiant: (27.5ppg-9.6apg-1.1spg-2.6topg-55%-50%)
• SG Greenlight: (26.7ppg-9.8apg-0.5spg-52%-42%)
• SF Pexile: (6.8ppg-0.7apg-1.0spg-63%-59%)
• PF Idris: (9.8ppg-4.7rpg-0.5spg-0.7bpg-64%-59%)
• C Ramo: (15.9ppg-11.4rpg-2.7apg-1.3spg-1.2bpg-78%)

Pacers Gaming (19-7)

• PG 630: (33.5ppg-9.1apg-0.8spg-3.3topg-53%-46%)
• SG Swizurk: (13.5ppg-1.4apg-0.9spg-55%-55%)
• SF Wolf: (8.0ppg-1.7apg-1.7spg-65%-54%)
• PF Lavish: (9.5ppg-6.5rpg-0.8spg-0.7bpg-70%-61%)
• C Jomar: (13.0ppg-11.1rpg-3.8apg-1.8spg-1.3bpg-74%)

As always, catch all of the action live on the NBA 2K League’s Twitch and YouTube channels. Pistons GT will tip off game one at 9:00 PM and game two at 10:00 PM. After Pacers Gaming, Detroit will conclude their regular season with a pair of matchups against Hawks Talon GC on Saturday evening. Follow @PistonsGT and @NBA2KLeague on Twitter for more updates.