The Detroit Pistons are riding high after a stellar team performance against the Los Angeles Lakers, completing a season sweep of the defending champions. This victory comes from Cade Cunningham’s first Eastern Conference Player of the Week award, marking a milestone in his young career.
Cunningham’s recognition is well-deserved, but interestingly, he had an off-night shooting against the Lakers, going 9-for-25 from the field and 0-for-5 from three-point range. Despite this, he still contributed 20 points and 10 assists, showcasing his ability to impact the game even when his shot isn’t falling.
The real story of the night was the Pistons’ bench, which proved to be the difference-maker. Malik Beasley led the charge with 21 points on efficient 8-of-15 shooting. The young duo of Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland also made their presence felt, combining for 23 points and providing crucial energy on both ends of the floor.
Holland, in particular, has been showing significant improvement in recent weeks. His ability to finish around the basket and his defensive intensity have been standout features of his game. According to Synergy stats, Holland ranks in the 85th percentile on layups in the half-court and the 88th percentile in transition.
The Starting Lineup Conundrum
While the win is certainly cause for celebration, it doesn’t mask the ongoing issues with the Pistons’ starting lineup. The current starting five has a net rating of -3.27 in 222 minutes played together, with a defensive rating that would rank as the worst in the NBA by a significant margin.
The struggles of Tobias Harris and the defensive limitations of Jalen Duren are contributing factors, but the most glaring issue is the lack of point-of-attack defense from the backcourt. This allows easy dribble penetration, forcing constant rotations and leaving shooters open on the perimeter.
A potential solution could be inserting either Ausar Thompson or Ron Holland into the starting lineup in place of Tim Hardaway Jr. Their defensive prowess and energy could provide the spark needed to prevent the team from falling into early deficits.
For more insights and a deeper dive into the Pistons’ recent success and ongoing challenges, tune into the Locked On Pistons podcast for this and much more.
Other Topics in Today’s Locked On Pistons Podcast:
• Cade Cunningham’s All-Star case
• Paul Reed’s impact off the bench
• The development of young players like Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland
