Jennings Shines as Detroit Pistons continue to roll

It has been an incredible couple of weeks for Detroit Pistons fans. Boos have turned into cheers, disgruntled fans are now a bit more jovial. The reason for this can be attributed to the cutting of Josh Smith  or the fact that this team has finally clicked, especially the play of point guard, Brandon Jennings.

In his last five games, Jennings is averaging 25 points, seven assist and nearly two steals per game and has played his best basketball since joining the team.

The man who described himself as “a walking thirty” has helped put the team on his back and is one of the main reasons why Detroit is 10-2 in their last twelve.

“He’s been on one hell of a roll, he’s playing as well as any guard in the league, and we rode him tonight.” Van Gundy said on Mlive.com

While he is not dropping 30 on a nightly basis, he has almost done a complete 180 in terms of his play. Of course Brandon Jennings will still be Brandon Jennings and play out of control and shoot some shots that makes you want to swan dive off the Ambassador Bridge but, you have to take the good with the bad. And lately, he has been more good than bad.

His 19 point surge in the third quarter in the 98-96 win over the Indiana Pacers last night helped fuel Detroit to their seventh consecutive road win, tying a franchise record set back in 2002.

Jennings 37 point outing is the second highest scoring mark since he dropped 55 in November of 2009 against the Golden State Warriors, in just his seventh NBA game.

Shooters are definitely going to shoot and for the moment, nobody minds Jennings taking his shots.

“If I see a couple of shots falling, everyone knows I’m going to keep shooting.” Jennings told the Detroit Free Press. “I was able to get into a rhythm and also find guys, so everything kind of worked out.”

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Defensively, Jennings has shown signs of improvement, most recently in a win 114-111 win over the Toronto Raptors. We saw Jennings strip All-Star candidate, Kyle Lowry of the ball in the closing seconds of the game to help secure a Pistons victory. He is certainly not an elite level defender but, willing to play on both ends of the court sends a positive message to fans, coaches and teammates.

If he is willing to work on becoming a good defender on a nightly basis, it won’t be long before people stop viewing him a a second tier point guard. He is relatively young, 25, but has been in the league for seven years, so maybe he’s realizing that reckless shooting and part-time defense does not equate to winning.

Jennings playing the way he has recently, gives Detroit a player who is not afraid to take a game over when needed or facilitate when needed.

Improvement in his decision-making and cutting down on turnovers are why the Pistons are looking to make a playoff push. The team is 15-25 and are two games back of the eighth playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

Jennings looks to continue his solid play tonight and inch Detroit closer to a playoff spot when the 76ers come to town tonight, tip-off is scheduled for 7:30 p.m.