There is plenty of blame to go around with the Pistons heading back to Detroit down 3-1 against the Orlando Magic in the first round. The Pistons have been outplayed throughout the series, except for the second half of Game 2. Detroit's offensive shortcomings have been the main talking point in the series as the Magic have completely stymied the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference.
A disappointing first-round exit will force the Pistons to take a long look in the mirror in the offseason. It will highlight how far away the Pistons are from championship contention, requiring tough decisions in terms of personnel. With a crucial Game 5 coming up, who has the most to prove? Who will be on thin ice in the offseason if the Pistons flame out early?
Jalen Duren
This isn't to say that the Pistons would or should let Duren walk, but they have to ask themselves serious questions. Is the 22-year-old center a no-brainer max player?
So far in the series, he couldn't be farther from that. He has been getting in foul trouble, struggling with turnovers, and has not made an impact on either end of the floor. He hasn't taken more than ten shots in any game and hasn't scored more than 12 points in any of the games, getting severely outplayed by Wendell Carter Jr.
Duren is a free agent this summer. After his first All-Star nod and an All-NBA caliber season, he will expect the maximum extension the Pistons can offer. If he makes All-NBA, that will be a five-year, $287 million offer. If he doesn't, it will be a five-year, $239 million deal, which is still enough to hamstring Detroit's financial flexibility going forward.
If Duren doesn't have a signature performance in this series and the Pistons lose in dispiriting fashion, Detroit has to play hardball with him in the offseason.
Duncan Robinson
Unlike Duren's, Robinson's struggles are hardly surprising. As important as he is offensively, Robinson is hurting the team in a big way on the defensive end. He was once again taken advantage of by the Magic in Game 4 and finished with a team-worst -18 in his minutes.
The Pistons are desperate for Robinson's shooting to survive offensively, but even that hasn't been enough in this series. The fact that Detroit is so desperate for such a limited player like Robinson is the real problem.
This has to change in the offseason. Robinson can still play a role for this team, but starting and averaging nearly 30 minutes per game has to stop. The Pistons have to find a way to make him a bench player at best going forward.
Ausar Thompson
Thompson has had excellent moments in this series, but is also one of the main reasons for the Pistons' offensive struggles. He continues to provide nothing in the half-court, allowing Orlando to pack the paint and make things difficult for Cade Cunningham and Duren. The Magic put Jalen Suggs on him, who has been able to disrupt everything because he doesn't have to guard Thompson whatsoever.
The third-year player obviously has to improve his shooting, but that is easier said than done. Plus, that is not the only aspect of his game that needs work. Thompson has to be more aggressive and physical inside the arc. He gets pushed out of position too easily and shies away from contact, perhaps due to his fear of getting fouled and going to the free-throw line. He also needs to be a better ball-handler and playmaker, especially if his shot is going to take time to develop.
It's very difficult to play a complete non-shooter on the perimeter in today's NBA. Playing next to Duren, Thompson creates all sorts of issues, making the Pistons an easy team to guard.
There is still a ton of upside with Thompson, but the Pistons shouldn't treat him as untouchable. If it makes more sense to bring him off the bench going forward, or explore trading him in the offseason for an immediate upgrade, the Pistons should seriously consider it.
JB Bickerstaff
The Pistons' head coach clearly did an excellent job in the regular season, but his playoff performance has left plenty to be desired. Last season against the Knicks, Detroit could have won the series if it hadn't been for late-game execution mistakes. This season, the execution has been an even bigger problem.
Detroit's offense has been a disaster all series. They can't create or make enough threes. They are turning the ball over an unsustainable amount, and can't get any easy buckets. None of the buttons Bickerstaff is pressing seems to be working.
The Pistons have a flawed roster, to be sure. Making the puzzle pieces fit is not as easy as some other teams in the league. At the same time, the Pistons haven't been able to find the answers to the problems plaguing them since Game 1.
If Orlando pulls off the upset against Detroit, do the Pistons consider moving on from Bickerstaff? It may be harsh, but it shouldn't be out of the realm of possibility. Bickerstaff was incredibly important in instilling discipline and making these guys an elite regular-season team, but maybe another head coach is needed to take them to the next level.
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