Even though the Detroit Pistons continue to lead the Eastern Conference with 22 games left in the regular-season, there are still questions about the viability of some of their rotation players. The chief among them is Caris LeVert. Pistons fans have been frustrated with the lack of impact the veteran guard has made all season, but the coaching staff has continued to stick with him in the rotation. In fact, JB Bickerstaff recently discussed LeVert's role and what he expects to do with his playoff rotation.
Per Jacob Richman of MLive, Bickerstaff said that he has no intention of narrowing down the rotation in the postseason. The Pistons' head coach said that he is comfortable with the depth and wants to play as many guys as possible. He added that a nine-man rotation is typically seen as "a great number," but the coaching staff is "struggling to get away from 12."
This suggests that the Pistons have no interest in making any changes to LeVert's minutes ahead of the playoffs. In the same presser, Bickerstaff talked highly of the 31-year-old guard, calling him "one of the most adaptable players" he has seen, per Pistons Talk on X.
"You ask him to play so many different roles, and he has throughout his career, and he just figures out a way to make it work. And I think, without being over-imposing, if that makes sense, he leads by example and people see that. He’s going to help you be a better basketball club. He’s going to help you be a better basketball coach."JB Bickerstaff on Caris LeVert
Bickerstaff's willingness to keep LeVert in the rotation despite consistent struggles can be explained with these words. He clearly sees intangibles in LeVert's game that are indispensable to the Pistons. While Detroit's regular-season record speaks for itself and Bickerstaff should be given the benefit of the doubt, it's difficult for Pistons fans to agree with this sentiment.
Whatever Bickerstaff thinks LeVert provides for this team isn't bearing out in numbers. According to Cleaning the Glass data, the Pistons are 10.9 points per 100 possessions worse with LeVert on the floor than without him. Not only is that the worst on-off rating on the team, but Detroit also has the 26th-best offensive rating in the league in LeVert's minutes.
LeVert is rarely involved in the offense, boasting a usage rate lower than Daniss Jenkins, Ron Holland, and Tobias Harris. He doesn't space the floor as he is not respected as an outside shooter. He can make wide-open threes, but he doesn't take enough of them to be a real threat. Even in his small role, he is widely inefficient with a 53.2% True Shooting, almost five percentage points lower than the league average.
As Bickerstaff said, this team is deep and stacked with talent. There are players like Marcus Sasser and Kevin Huerter who aren't even seeing the floor on most nights. That gives even more of a reason for the Pistons to reconsider LeVert's role in the rotation. Much to the frustration of the fanbase, however, that may not be happening any time soon.