Most of the talk around the Detroit Pistons’ offseason has revolved around whether they’ve done enough to keep up in a revamped Eastern Conference.
The East will be better at the top end, but also at the bottom, so it will likely be a tougher path for the Pistons to reach the number one seed again.
Detroit didn’t make the big splash, and they still have some question marks when it comes to secondary scoring and creation, but if they can get breakout seasons from some of their players, people will quickly forget about their quiet offseason.
Can Ausar Thompson be the second scorer?
I don’t think anyone expects Ausar Thompson to suddenly learn to shoot the 3-ball, but he doesn’t have to, as his twin brother Amen showed last season.
Amen averaged over 18 points per game for the Rockets last season, and he was an even worse 3-point shooter than Ausar, so has shown him the path to getting there.
It starts with improved ball handling and finishing, as Thompson has shown he can get there, but still has loose handles in traffic and has trouble finishing from the floater area.
Thompson shot 65 percent on shots under five feet last season, but only 32 percent on shots between 5-9 feet, which is where he needs to improve.
He has to be more aggressive attacking the rim off the bounce, and if he is, Thompson could help fill the role of second scorer.
Does Isaiah Joe have another level?
Joe has been a very steady role player for the OKC Thunder, but he had plenty of competition, which held him to just 21 minutes per game.
He may end up getting more than that with Detroit, as he’ll be one of the first guys off the bench and could even get bumped to a starting role if the Pistons eventually need Duncan Robinson’s salary for a trade.
We’ll see if Joe is just a good role player on a great team or if there is more.
Ron Holland II has to hit the corner 3-point shot
Holland didn’t see much action in the playoffs and isn’t happy about it, so he’ll be working hard this offseason to make a big leap that will get him into the postseason rotation.
He’s already a good defender and general agent of chaos, but he has to have some kind of offensive game, or he’ll face the same fate, as teams aren’t going to defend him at all until he shows he can consistently knock down a jumper.
We’ve talked a lot about the Pistons’ lack of two-way wings, and both Holland and Thompson have a chance to remedy that with big seasons.
Paul Reed will finally get a chance to shine
Reed has always been an energy/hustle guy, but last season showed he’s got a clever bag around the rim and can be more than just a junkyard dog.
He’ll get his chance to show that in an increased role next season as the backup center, and if his playoffs and per-36 numbers are any indication, he could be a huge upgrade from Isaiah Stewart. Sorry, Beef Stew.
Daniss Jenkins and Ebuka Okorie have to step up
The Pistons did little to address their lack of ball handling, so Daniss Jenkins and/or Ebuka Okorie will have a chance to seize big roles with the Pistons.
I hope to see a calmer Daniss Jenkins emerge as a true backup point guard, but if not, rookie Okorie will be right on his heels.
These players all represent ways the Pistons can make up for their quiet offseason in the aggregate simply through internal improvement.
Add us as a preferred source on Google