AUBURN HILLS - Stanley Johnson's offensive inconsistency frustrates fans, but the fourth-year forward showed Wednesday why the Detroit Pistons continue to be patient with him: his lockdown defensive ability.
Johnson's fourth-quarter defense against Kawhi Leonard, one of the best players in the NBA, keyed the Pistons' 106-104 comeback victory against the Toronto Raptors, one of the top teams in the league.
"I thought it was some of the best individual defense I've seen this year," Pistons coach Dwane Casey said.
"The thing with Stanley, and we all have to have, is consistency. He's got to go out Monday night, Wednesday night and next Friday night and crank it back up again and have that same intensity, that same focus, that same attention to detail on the defensive end.