Pistons' Brandon Jennings vows to go back to shoot-first

Vince Ellis | USA TODAY Sports

PORTLAND, Ore. — After indicating that he was going to try to become more of a facilitator, Detroit Pistons point guard Brandon Jennings basically said Monday that such a move isn't playing to his strengths.

He made his comments after the Pistons' third straight loss, a 109-103 decision against the Portland Trail Blazers. Jennings put up 24 shots in scoring a game-high 28 points, including nine of the Pistons' last 11 in a furious rally that fell short.

Jennings said the shoot-first outlook has Pistons president of basketball operations Joe Dumars' blessing.

"That's one thing me and Joe talked about," Jennings said. "That was my first problem in the beginning, when I came back, trying to please everybody, trying to make sure I was being a pass-first point guard instead of just playing basketball.

"But like tonight, I've just got to play basketball. If the shot's there, I'm going to take it. If not, then I'm going to pass it."

It's not surprising to hear Dumars wants an attacking point guard. There is a school of thought in the NBA that pass-first point guards in the mode of Bob Cousy have gone the way of the peach basket. And evidence supports that notion, with Rajon Rondo the only elite point guard with a pass-first mentality. The best point guard, Chris Paul, is a hybrid.

But the Pistons' strength is in the frontcourt, so you have to wonder whether Jennings' approach could backfire.

"Yeah, I was OK with the shots," Pistons coach Maurice Cheeks said Monday. "I don't think they were, like, forced shots. Sometimes, when you're down, you've got to try to get a quick shot. I liked the way Brandon played."

Vince Ellis writes for the Detroit Free Press