The Pistons were hoping some of Monty Williams’ Suns magic would rub off on their young, talented group, but the fit wasn’t right. In reality, the roster was probably a lot further from respectability than the front office thought. Williams only lasted a year, despite signing a record-breaking six-year, $78.5 million deal. Considering Detroit finished 27th in adjusted offensive rating and 25th in adjusted defensive rating, it’s hard to argue Williams deserved more time. But his fate was sealed when the Pistons brought in Trajan Langdon as president of basketball operations.
Langdon understandably wanted his own head coach, and he chose J.B. Bickerstaff, who led the Cavaliers to the playoffs the last two seasons. Bickerstaff has some question marks when it comes to his postseason coaching, but he’s a proven regular season leader. His competitiveness should rub off on this moldable, young group.
Bickerstaff’s first task will be improving Detroit’s shot profile. Last year, the Pistons were third in mid-range frequency (34.0%), but only 18th in mid-range accuracy (42.6%). That’s not going to fly in today’s NBA. For comparison, Bickerstaff’s Cavaliers had the lowest mid-range frequency (25.6%) in the league last season and were seventh in 3-point frequency (39.0%), while Detroit ranked 29th (32.7%).
Expect a lot more 3-point attempts in the Motor City this season, and the roster they’ve built around Cade Cunningham reflects that. Cunningham, a jumbo playmaker who averaged 22.7 points and 7.5 assists per game last season, has never had the luxury of being surrounded by enough shooting. But players like Malik Beasley, Simone Fontecchio and Tobias Harris could change that. Beasley and Fontecchio both shot over 40% from 3 last season, and Harris has been flirting with that mark for most of his career. Cunningham is also a good 3-point shooter himself, so we could see lineups with three or more players spacing the floor at all times.
The Pistons also hired Fred Vinson, arguably the best shooting coach on the planet, to help develop some of their younger, non-shooters like second-year forward Ausar Thompson and rookie Ron Holland II. Both have unteachable talent and athleticism on the wing and the potential to be All-Defensive Team players. If Vinson can get their shots right, Detroit has an insanely bright future. Vinson was successful in fixing a lot of broken jumpers in his time in New Orleans, so there’s no reason to doubt him.
Off the bench, Detroit has some real depth. Veteran sharpshooter Tim Hardaway Jr. (career 36.0% 3PT) joins promising youngsters like Marcus Sasser and Isaiah Stewart. Sasser is a smart decision-maker who can hit the 3, and while he’s undersized for an NBA guard, he competes his tail off on defense. Stewart, meanwhile, is a physical presence as an undersized center and has developed into a reliable floor spacer (38.3% from 3 last season).
Jaden Ivey, the fifth pick in the 2022 draft, is another interesting piece. He averaged 15.4 points and 3.8 assists per game last season, but his efficiency hasn’t been there since entering the league. Maybe Bickerstaff, who has worked with Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland, can help him take a step forward in his third year. Ivey is explosive off the dribble and can handle the ball, with flashes of shooting and playmaking ability. He’s far from a lost cause and will have this season to prove he belongs in Detroit’s core. A little more effort on defense wouldn’t hurt either, especially since Bickerstaff emphasizes that side of the ball.
Speaking of defense, the Pistons have to be better this year. Bickerstaff’s Cavs were Top 10 in adjusted defensive rating the last three seasons, and they were first in 2022-23. His system should spark a big defensive improvement for Detroit, but how much they improve will ultimately determine how this season goes.
Pistons Win Total Prediction
Cunningham is a special player with his size and ability to run an offense, and the supporting cast around him has improved drastically. Last year, Cunningham was playing with a really miserable group of wings. This year, the team has some adults in the room, and there are real reasons to buy into the improvement of some of the young guys. Detroit has invested a lot in its developmental coaching staff. Considering all of that, I’d be surprised if the Pistons turn in yet another embarrassing season. I like the Pistons to flirt with 30 wins.
Lean: Over 25.5 Wins (-105)
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