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With another stellar job against yet another star, KCP emerging as elite Pistons stopper

OKLAHOMA CITY – Kentavious Caldwell-Pope wasn’t the focal point of many opponent scouting reports as a Pistons rookie. So when he torched Oklahoma City for 20 first-half points in the 2014 season finale – a game the Thunder desperately needed to clinch home-court advantage for the second round of the playoffs – OKC’s players were incredulous in their halftime locker room.

“Who the bleep is that?” somebody croaked to no one in particular.

Russell Westbrook knew, mostly because they shared the same agent, and told his teammates that, yeah, the kid was talented and they needed to tighten it up on him in the second half. The Thunder went on to squeeze out a 112-111 win, but Caldwell-Pope announced his arrival that night with 30 points, six boards, two steals and a blocked shot.

He didn’t quite light up the scoreboard like that in Friday’s loss at OKC, but his work at the other end of the court was every bit as eye opening – this time coming at Westbrook’s expense.

Westbrook went into Friday’s game as one of the NBA’s very few players with a shot at unseating reigning MVP Steph Curry. Through 16 games, he’d averaged 28.1 points (third) and 10.3 assists (second) while shooting 47.4 percent. Caldwell-Pope didn’t let him come close to those numbers. Westbrook finished with 14 points, hitting 5 of 14 shots, and four assists. He fouled out in less than 29 minutes while committing 11 turnovers, more than twice his average.

“He’s one of the best point guards in the league,” Caldwell-Pope said. “It was a challenge for me. I stepped up and took the challenge and I did a pretty good job.”

Pretty good doesn’t quite describe it. Teammates Reggie Jackson and Andre Drummond spent the first half in foul trouble, putting an even greater onus on Caldwell-Pope to defend Westbrook on his own and do it without a shot-blocking presence behind him. He played 40 minutes – when he wasn’t hounding Westbrook, he was draped over Dion Waiters, who finished 4 of 13 – and picked up only two fouls. Westbrook, who averages 8.4 foul shots a game, was limited to five attempts.

By the time Westbrook fouled out, backing into Caldwell-Pope in a futile attempt to shake loose, the frustration on his face was evident.

“I thought KCP did a good job on him,” Stan Van Gundy said. “He worked really, really hard. He does a really good job against guards off the dribble. He was outstanding defensively.”

Van Gundy picks his spots for Caldwell-Pope to guard the opposition point guard and he’s had some memorable outings already against the likes of Curry, Damian Lillard and Westbrook. Not only does it give the Pistons a favorable defensive matchup against the opposition’s catalyst, but it allows Jackson to conserve a little energy for the load put on his shoulders running Detroit’s offense. You can be sure Caldwell-Pope’s name figures prominently now in scouting reports at least at that end.

“I don’t know. I mean, I hope so,” he said. “I’m going to defend whoever my coach puts me on. I want to defend the best player each night. If I’m going to do that, I’ve got to continue to take the challenge and be ready for it.”