Ron Holland II scored 17 points in 17 minutes last night even though the Detroit Pistons never called a play for him. He got his as he always does, with relentless hustle and energy that never turns off, a star quality people tend to ignore.
Holland has shot the ball poorly this season, something that has some pundits [putting a cap on his ceiling](https://pistonpowered.com/athleticdraft-guru-says-quiet-part-out-loud-about-ron-holland-ceiling-detroit-pistons) and saying he’ll never be a star. As we know, all human beings peak at age 20!
This absurd take not only ignores the fact that history has shown us we can’t make conclusions about players when they are 20, but also ignores the context, which is that Holland is on the best team in the Eastern Conference, he’s about the 7th option in the offense and isn’t being asked to do too much on that end.
I’ve said this before, but if Holland were on one of the tanking teams, he’d be jacking 20 shots a game, but he’s not going to get that opportunity on this team, so he has to find other ways to contribute.
He’s also had a more inconsistent role this season with all of the injuries, so it’s not surprising Holland has had a slow offensive start under these circumstances.
The great thing is that it hasn’t affected his attitude at all, as Holland gives all-out effort every time he steps on the floor, whether he gets a shot or not.
Ron Holland II makes winning plays that box-score watchers will never see
--------------------------------------------------------------------------
If you only look at Holland’s box scores or raw stats, you’d think he wasn’t doing much, but if you watch the games, you’ll see he makes winning plays all of the time that the scorecards don’t catch.
Last night was a perfect example, as Holland continually made hustle plays that gave the Pistons second chances. He had three offensive rebounds, but also two more tips that kept balls alive that the Pistons eventually secured.
One of them was under the hoop against three Hawks who Holland simply outhustled for the ball. The next was on a missed free throw that Holland was able to tap out and keep alive.
Holland added two more steals last night, putting him 2nd in the NBA in games with multiple steals, which is impressive considering he only plays 21 minutes a game.
[This is the type of play that](https://x.com/pointmadebball/status/1995678462263394702?s=20) personifies Holland, as there is a scrum on the floor with five guys going after the ball and somehow, he comes away with it, rumbles to the hoops and scores through contact.
Holland is not a polished player yet and not one who is going to shoot the lights out from long range, but he has a skill many players lack which is a non-stop motor that goes full tilt even if he never takes a shot.
Effort can carry you a long way in the NBA, and no player gives more than Holland.
Pistons fans understand this, which is why Holland is already one of the most popular players and perhaps the one who most personifies Detroit basketball.