Cory Joseph's spirit, basketball IQ are valuable to rebuilding Detroit Pistons

Cory Joseph missed Monday’s game due to a bout with bronchitis. One probably wouldn’t have guessed that, judging by his performance Wednesday against the Dallas Mavericks.

Joseph had one of his best games as a Detroit Piston, scoring 24 points, dishing five assists, grabbing five rebounds and making nine of his 15 shots. He helped Detroit stay in the game as Jerami Grant, who scored 18 points in his first 15 minutes of action, sat on the bench during most of the third quarter with foul trouble.

The Pistons (18-41) ultimately couldn’t keep pace, falling to the Mavericks on the road, 127-117. But Joseph’s performance highlighted what he has brought to the team since arriving at the March 25 trade deadline — stability. Their point guard rotation has been in a flux since his arrival, due to injuries and inexperience. Joseph has been the most consistent performer at the position.

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“He’s been super,” Mason Plumlee, who flirted with a triple-double with 13 points, 16 rebounds and seven assists Wednesday, said. “You can just tell, his basketball IQ is so high and that’s the one thing that allows you to go between teams and fit in right away. He had a big scoring night in the first half and there’s nothing forced, it was just all within the game. He’s going to get guys to their spots and get them shots. He’s just a quintessential point guard, gets guys where they need to be and run the team.”

Joseph has played 14 games, and started six, since his arrival nearly a month ago. Saben Lee has seven starts in that span, but Joseph’s experience has given him the edge in recent games. Wednesday was Joseph’s sixth consecutive start. Killian Hayes started the two games Joseph missed in that stretch.

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Dennis Smith Jr. has only appeared in four games since the deadline, and Hayes has missed four games since his return April 3 because the medical staff hasn’t cleared him to play back-to-backs. This has enabled Joseph to seize a large role in the rotation.

He isn’t new to coach Dwane Casey’s scheme, though, and that has eased his transition. Joseph played for Casey with the Toronto Raptors from 2015-17.

“I’m very familiar with his offense,” Joseph said. “He puts his players in the best position to succeed. Being in Toronto with him definitely helped me out coming here, being able to come to this system and adapt.”

That, along with Joseph playing his first four seasons with the San Antonio Spurs, has made him easier for Casey to trust. Joseph played 18 minutes in his debut with the Pistons on March 26, less than a day after arriving in Detroit.

“He’s a good example for what you need to be,” Casey said. “He’s an experienced guy, been around, played for championship programs in San Antonio and helped us win quite a few games in Toronto. He’s been around the league and made his way.”

Joseph, 29 and under contract for next season, has put up solid numbers with the Pistons, averaging 11.7 points on 50% shooting, 5.6 assists and 1.2 steals in 26.1 minutes over 14 games. He has quickly made an impression on his new team.

“Cory, since I’ve been coaching he’s one of the best with his spirit each and every day,” Casey said. “He lights up the room, brightens up the gym with energy, a sense of purpose, his spirit is undeniable when he walks into the gym. And he just lifts it up in so many ways, not just on the stat sheet but his approach, his positive approach. He’s ready to go. He’s really jolted us with a bolt of energy and setting an example for our program going forward. We’re really excited to have him and he’s been a big lift for us.”

Contact Omari Sankofa II at osankofa@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @omarisankofa. Read more on the Detroit Pistons and sign up for our Pistons newsletter.

This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons' Cory Joseph impressing with spirit, basketball IQ