Under the Hood - it’s time to see what’s really going on inside this Pistons team.
Firing on All Cylinders
Based on Detroit’s roster construction, they aren’t known as a three-point shooting team, but that doesn’t mean they can’t create good spacing on the court.
Given Detroit runs a lot of pick-and-roll, the gravity of the roll-man can create open looks for other teammates. DeMar DeRozan is guarding Tobias Harris in the corner, but as he helps on Isaiah Stewart’s roll to the rim, Tobias relocates farther away from DeRozan to give Cade a passing window for a wide open three.
On this next possession, Sabonis drops into the paint to help with Jalen Duren’s roll, Harris moves to the wing to maximize his distance away from Sabonis, and Jenkins finds Harris for another wide open three. These are two good examples of how a rolling big man can pull defenders away from his teammates to help them get open.
I’m also a fan of having somebody in a corner during a fast break, specifically on the opposite side of the ball. Ausar kicks off the transition push with a pass to Tobias who drives to the rim, but he gets walled off by Sabonis. It’s much easier for Tobias to pass in the direction he’s headed which is why it was so smart of Duncan to fill in the opposite corner. If Tobias doesn’t have this option, it’s probably a turnover.
Another fast break opportunity where Ron Holland and Daniss Jenkins fill in the corners as Cade drives into the paint, and Jenkins had enough time to get a nap in before attempting this three-pointer.
Transmission Trouble
Next, here’s an example of the two-man game that Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson will have to play due to their lack of shooting. Duren is a step slow on his pass to Ausar, so Ausar tries to create a new action with Harris. However, they’re running this DHO from the elbow and Ausar rolls right into Duren’s defender since everyone is so close to the paint. As Tobias drives, nobody is in the opposite corner for a passing option and he turns the ball over.
Jaden Ivey leads the fastbreak on this next one with Stew trailing him along with multiple Kings defenders. I would argue this turnover is on Tobias Harris more than it is on Ivey. If there are three Kings players glued to Ivey in the paint, don’t add another body to it - space the floor out, hit the corner, and give Ivey an actual passing lane.
This possession just feels forced by Cade. It starts with Ausar setting him a screen in a crowd, but Cade starts his drive before anyone is really settled. The whole team is on the right half of the court and this is a heavily contested layup because Ausar and Duren are standing in the dunker’s spot together. I’d like to see Cade get his guys in the right spots before trying to finish over multiple defenders.
Mechanic’s Note
Last, this possession features a little bit of both good and bad spacing.
We have a better spaced floor where Ausar sets a screen for Cade. Duncan makes himself available at the top of the key as Ausar rolls to the rim. I think Ausar gets a little too deep as he’s flat-footed when he catches Cade’s pass - if he’s able to slow his roll to create a running start as he catches the ball, he may have had the ability to finish.
Yet, since he didn’t have momentum, he’s stuck under the rim with nowhere to go - a spot we’ve seen him in many times. Luckily, with DeRozan helping down low, Ausar was able to find Tobias in the corner for an open three.
Given how many players on this roster prioritize scoring at the rim, there’s a trade deadline need for a player (or players) who prioritizes shooting the long ball.