![Feb 9, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Detroit Pistons guard/forward Ausar Thompson (9) brings the ball up court during the second half against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center. ]](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_crop,x_0,y_170,w_1922,h_1081/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/images/ImagnImages/mmsport/196/01khrqak7avsmzwk8nmc.jpg "Feb 9, 2026; Charlotte, North Carolina, USA; Detroit Pistons guard/forward Ausar Thompson (9) brings the ball up court during the second half against the Charlotte Hornets at Spectrum Center. ]")
The Detroit Pistons are 40-13 after the NBA All-Star break and are on their way to clinch the top seed in the Eastern Conference. Despite exceeding all preseason expectations, the Pistons have a chance to make a deep postseason run and turn this into a magical season.
To be a true contender in the playoffs, however, the Pistons need more from a few role players. Cade Cunningham is playing at an All-NBA first team level, and he will continue to carry this team, but he will need more help. There are a few players whose performances will either be the reason for Detroit's postseason success or lead to its downfall.
Pistons' Playoff Aspirations Could Hinge on This Trio
1. Ausar Thompson
Ausar Thompson's lack of development in his third season has been disappointing. He is essentially the same player he was last season: an elite perimeter defender who has massive offensive shortcomings.
Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff faces a dilemma with Thompson. The 23-year-old forward is too good defensively to keep off the court. Since the Pistons are an offensively limited team, they need their best defenders playing to maintain their elite defensive unit. At the same time, Thompson's presence is a big reason why Detroit is limited offensively.
Thompson takes fewer threes than ever and is rarely involved in the offense. His free-throw percentage has dived and could be an issue in the playoffs. His inability to be an off-ball threat cramps Detroit's spacing, making things harder for the offense.
Thompson needs to find a way to be effective offensively, whether it's through offensive rebounding, getting out in transition, or finishing around the basket in the dunker spot. He also needs to make free throws at a higher rate than his season average of 58%. Otherwise, he will be hard to trust in the playoffs.
2. Ron Holland
Ron Holland is facing similar issues to those of Thompson.
In his second year, Holland has failed to take a step forward. His shot is as broken as ever, and he is significantly less efficient this season than he was as a rookie. As a result, his minutes have been inconsistent all season.
The 20-year-old forward plays an important role off the bench for the Pistons. He brings energy and dynamism, leading to steals, hustle plays, and fast break points. Holland not only guards multiple positions, but he is also a very active help defender and forces a ton of turnovers. It is not a coincidence that the Pistons are a whopping 8.4 points per 100 possessions better on defense when Holland is on the floor, easily the best mark on the team.
When Holland is playing, the Pistons have an incredible 103.9 defensive rating.
The same, unfortunately, can't be said about the offense. Holland does very little in the half-court offense. His shooting woes are amplified on a team that already lacks elite shooters. He may see his role reduced in the postseason unless he starts making more shots.
3. Kevin Huerter
The Pistons' only trade deadline acquisition isn't off to a hot start in Detroit. In his first four games with his new team, Kevin Huerter is 1-of-9 from three, averaging 4.3 points in 12 minutes per game.
In an ideal scenario, Huerter would have a solid role off the bench for the Pistons. On paper, he is the second-best shooter on the team after Duncan Robinson, and Detroit desperately needs that. But Huerter hasn't been making shots over his last two seasons with the Kings and the Bulls. And if he isn't making shots, there isn't much of a reason to keep him out there.
Huerter was a 38.5% three-point shooter in his first five years in the league. Since then, he has been nowhere near that level. The Pistons would love to have another high-volume, high-accuracy marksman in the rotation, giving them another shooter they can run plays for. Otherwise, they risk being a little too predictable and shooting-challenged in the playoffs.
Whether Huerter can give the Pistons this additional element will be a determining factor for their postseason success.