It's hard to pinpoint any single factor for the Detroit Pistons' unexpected 112-101 loss to the Orlando Magic in Game 1. Sunday's outcome was an all-around, well-deserved loss for the Pistons with many points of failure. This makes finding a solution that much harder for head coach J.B. Bickerstaff.
One of the main reasons why finding a solution will be difficult is Duncan Robinson. The veteran sharpshooter's Pistons playoff debut highlighted issues many fans were fearing after his acquisition last offseason, leaving a feeling of unease as the opening-round series continues.
Robinson continues to be an important part of Detroit's offense. He is the best shooter on the team and one of the only off-ball threats the opposing defenses fear. He was solid on that end of the floor against the Magic, shooting 3-of-6 from downtown while tallying nine points and four assists. The other end of the floor, however, was a bigger issue.
As has been the case for most of his career, Robinson was taken advantage of on that end, giving the Pistons another issue to solve ahead of Game 2.
Duncan Robinson's Defense Is a Big Concern for Pistons
Tasked with guarding Jalen Suggs to start the game, Robinson picked up two fouls in five minutes. The Magic outscored the Pistons 18-8 in this span with Suggs putting up eight points and two assists on 3-of-5 shooting. Robinson was immediately subbed off. When he got back on the court in the second quarter, it took him three minutes to notch another foul before spending the rest of the half on the bench with foul trouble.
In his defense, Robinson was able to tone down the fouling in the second half. But his defensive struggles in the first half helped set the tone for the Magic and put the Pistons behind the eight-ball. Things didn't improve much for Robinson in the second half as he finished the game -14 in 26 minutes of action.
In Game 1, the Pistons had an awful 134.0 defensive rating when Robinson was on the floor. His presence gave the Magic a place to attack, creating yet another big hole in Detroit's lineup.
This is the problem with Robinson and his place on the Pistons. Detroit desperately needs Robinson's shooting. At the same time, whenever he is on the court, the Pistons are a much worse defensive team.
Against a physical Magic team that plays with a ton of intensity, this problem is exacerbated. In Orlando's starting lineup, there is no one the Pistons can hide Robinson on. Suggs seemed to be the easiest matchup for Robinson, but that still proved to be a big problem.
The solution is perhaps to move Robinson to the bench or have him play more against Orlando's second units. Finding the right balance between more shooting and defense on the floor will be Bickerstaff's biggest challenge in this series.
Robinson's role and minutes could determine how far the Pistons can go in this series, let alone the postseason, emphasizing how important it is to solve the issue before it's too late.
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