The Detroit Pistons are a team on the rise. They looked inexperienced and had to go through some growing pains in the playoffs, but they're now a battle-tested squad that knows the heartbreak of being sent home.
J.B. Bickerstaff should have big plans for his young core ahead of this season, especially after some of them got paid. Notably, it looks like his vision will start with getting Ausar Thompson to bring the ball up the court more often.
The Pistons' coach opened up about his desire to get the ball in Thompson's hands and let him develop as a point forward. He believes that will be the key to elevating this team and reaching yet another level after their regular-season success.
The Pistons want Ausar Thompson on the ball
“We obviously want Ausar to have the ball in his hands. We believe if he takes a jump, our team is going to take a jump. In order to do that, he’s got to get that exposure," Bickerstaff said (h/t Omari Sankofa II).
This makes perfect sense, especially in the age of positionless basketball. That said, this is also an approach that might backfire tremendously, and the Pistons must be wary of running into the same wall over and over if it doesn't yield the expected results.
While it's undeniable that having Thompson get the ball off the court and initiate the offense could open up plenty of things for everyone else, it also comes with risks. His handles are average at best, and while he's a selfless guy, his playmaking is also just okay.
More than that, the Pistons already have an elite point guard pulling the strings of the offense. Putting the ball in Thompson's hands means that Cade Cunningham isn't initiating the action, and while that could lead to him driving up his scoring totals as a finisher, is that a risk worth taking?
The Pistons have a solid backup point guard in Daniss Jenkins, and there has been plenty of buzz around Ebuka Okorie. Thompson should run point here and there, but will they truly want to give him those duties for extended periods?
If anything, this team must work on having him develop any sort of jump shot. Anything. He's an elite slasher and driver, and he might be one of the three most versatile, high-IQ defensive players in the game, but he's a total non-threat when he's away from the rim.
Again, having him run point could probably help other guys get better looks off the ball, but that has never been his game, and it just may not come naturally to him. A shot can be worked on and developed, but someone doesn't just become a point guard overnight.
Thompson will be this team's X-factor, and there's no denying that he can raise their ceiling like no other guy on the roster. But in this particular aspect of the game, the Pistons might not need to fix what's not broken with Cade Cunningham.
Add us as a preferred source on Google