Detroit Pistons aide Sean Sweeney awed Dwane Casey with defensive schemes

Vince Ellis | Detroit Free Press

LAS VEGAS — The memory is etched in Dwane Casey’s mind.

In losing two of the first three games in the 2017 first-round playoff series against the Milwaukee Bucks, Casey and the Toronto Raptors struggled to score.

They scored 83 points in a Game 1 loss.

They scored 77 points in a Game 3 loss.

Sean Sweeney, the assistant coach who helped to devise the defensive scheme, remembers the series as well.

The Bucks lost.

(That) “wasn’t so fun,” he said Wednesday with a laugh.

Although the Raptors recovered to win three straight games, the defensive performance impressed Casey.

After he was fired by the Raptors and hired by the Detroit Pistons, he decided to bring Sweeney along. Sweeney spent the past four seasons in Milwaukee.

He is running the Pistons’ summer-league team, which started practicing Monday to prepare for games, which start Friday.

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Sweeney, 48, brings a good reputation to the Pistons. He’s credited with being a main influence in the development of star Giannis Antetokounmpo.

Sweeney was attracted to the opportunity to work for Casey, who earned two coach of the year honors for leading the Raptors to the Eastern Conference’s top seed and franchise-record 59 victories.

“Working for Coach Casey is something that really excited me,” Sweeney said after practice at Thomas & Mack Arena.

Veteran coach Sidney Lowe is back for a second stint with the Pistons. He will be the lead assistant under Casey.

Player development coach D.J. Bakker has moved with Casey from the Raptors.

Sweeney gave the players a break, canceling Wednesday night’s scheduled practice after two daily practices Monday and Tuesday.

After summer league, it’s back to prep for the upcoming season where the Pistons hope to make a jump in the Eastern Conference.

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The talent level on the roster was another attraction for Sweeney.

He is aware of the team’s recent move from northern Oakland County to Little Caesars Arena in downtown Detroit.

He is excited for the under-construction practice facility, which is scheduled to open Sept. 2019.

“The team is trying to build something that’s exciting,” Sweeney said.

“In general, I like cities that have good restaurants and Detroit has a number of them,” he added.

Missing point guard

The Pistons’ summer league roster is missing someone.

Point guard Keenan Evans, who went undrafted after four seasons at Texas Tech, was signed to a two-way contract.

But he’s still recovering from foot surgery and won’t arrive in Vegas until later. He won’t be available for summer-league play, but is expected to be ready for training camp.

He averaged 17.3 points per game and shot 32 percent from 3-point range as a senior.

He is 6 feet 3 and 190 pounds.

This will be the second NBA season for two-way deals, which allow teams to have two extra players outside the 15-man roster. Two-way players typically spend most of their time with Gatorade League affiliates and are allowed 45 days with the parent club.

The NBA and National Basketball Players Association agreed to the new addition to the Collective Bargaining Agreement, effective July 1, 2017.

The goal was to create more chances for players to be developed by NBA teams and earn more money than a standard Gatorade League player.

Follow Vince Ellis on Twitter @vincent_ellis56.

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