The Detroit Pistons are playing their most competitive basketball as a franchise since they took Cade Cunningham with the No. 1 pick in the 2021 NBA Draft.
Cunningham and the Pistons have already notched eight more wins than they did all of last season despite the roster having an average age of 24.4. Detroit is 22-21, seventh in the Eastern Conference and firmly in the Play-In race. So, let’s unpack some things from the first half of the Pistons’ season — what’s gone well, what’s been less than ideal, underrated storylines and more.
What’s gone well?
Clearly, Cade Cunningham
To start with the most obvious development of the season that likely has Detroit fans gleefully tuning in each time their team plays: Cunningham is ascending into a young star. He’s on pace to average career highs in points, assists, rebounds, blocks, field-goal percentage, 3-point percentage and 3-point attempts. The 23-year-old guard is third in the NBA in assists and third in triple-doubles.
If none of that was impressive enough for you, Cunningham is on pace to be the first Piston to average at least 24 points, nine assists and six rebounds. LeBron James, Kevin Durant, Draymond Green and Shaquille O’Neal have all acknowledged Cunningham’s talent and co-signed him earning his first All-Star nod in February.
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Jaden Ivey’s emergence
Like his backcourt mate Cunningham, Ivey was tracking toward a career year himself. Though his season came to a halt after breaking his fibula in his left leg on Jan. 1, Ivey was working on career highs in points, rebounds, steals, field-goal percentage and 3-point percentage. He has two game-winners this season and appeared to be blossoming into a formidable running mate next to Cunningham.
Detroit announced on Jan. 2 that Ivey would be reevaluated in four weeks. Ivey’s absence has created a need for someone else, not named Cunningham, to initiate offense and create easy buckets for others. Ivey’s return to action, whenever that may be, can’t come soon enough for Detroit.
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Best offseason signing off 2024?
Malik Beasley could very well be the most vital offseason acquisition any team made in 2024.
Numbers aside, Beasley offers Cunningham more spacing than he’s had in any of his seasons in the association. Beasley forces defenders to stay attached to him defensively, which can free up space to create driving lanes for Cunningham. And the zeal he approaches each game with is palpable and something this team relies on.
Whether he’s shimmying after hitting big shots or dropping f-bombs on live TV to encourage fans to vote Cunningham into the All-Star Game, he’s a young veteran who is usually the life of most Pistons parties.
Beasley is on pace for his second-highest scoring season, and he’s third in the league in made 3s. His enthusiasm on the hardwood is invaluable for this group, plus he’s a season away from having a decade of NBA experience under his belt. I have to imagine Beasley exceeded all expectations people had for him during the first half of the season, minus, maybe, himself.
Progress of Ausar Thompson, Ron Holland
On a team full of young players, some of whom are budding with potential, you’d be hard-pressed to find two players with more upside than Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland II. Let’s start with the rook.
Holland has been impressive in limited minutes, especially his 20-point fourth quarter against the Boston Celtics on December 12. Even though he’s just 19, Holland brings a certain tenacity that perfectly matches this franchise and city. He’s shown he’s gritty and unafraid of NBA veterans, having run-ins with Green and even squaring up with Jordan Clarkson.
Ron Holland II has shown promise as a rookie. (Ron Chenoy / Imagn Images)
But past his mentality, Holland is a very advanced finisher, especially in transition, with both hands. Both Holland and Thompson are working daily with shooting coach Fred Vinson to improve their 3-point shooting. Holland’s best month from downtown came in December when he averaged 7.7 points on 42.9 percent shooting from 3.
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Listed at 6-foot-8 with nearly a 6-foot-11 wingspan, Holland has an opportunity to become a legitimate two-way threat in due time. It helps that he has a knack for consistently being in the right place at the right time. Thompson has equally as good a chance as Holland to develop into a two-way problem.
Thompson is more defensively inclined than Holland and boasts a 7-foot wingspan. He had a delayed start to the season because of an issue with blood clots, making his second-year debut against the Toronto Raptors on Nov. 25. Since Thompson’s rookie season ended early for the same reason, he’s now officially got 84 games under his belt. And his minutes have gone up in each month.
The athleticism Thompson possesses is near otherworldly; even guys like James marvel at the athleticism Thompson and his twin brother Amen possess. I believe Thompson’s ceiling may be a bit higher than Holland’s, though Holland has a high ceiling as well.
If Thompson’s offensive game ever catches up to where he’s at defensively, he will wreak havoc on the wing for years to come.
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Transition scoring
The Pistons enter Wednesday third in the NBA in transition scoring. The importance of getting out on the break and getting easy shots should go without saying. Detroit also can tire teams out by getting up and down, considering it’s so young as a team.
What’s gone wrong?
Turnovers
Turnovers have been Detroit’s most glaring issue through the first half of the season. The Pistons rank 22nd in the NBA in giveaways and have six games with at least 20 turnovers.
While Cunningham is the head of the metaphorical snake offensively and third in the league in assists, he ranks second in turnovers. Considering his usage, turnovers are to be expected. Each of the players who are top 10 in assists are also top 25 in turnovers, with the exceptions of Tyrese Haliburton and Chris Paul.
But to be clear, the turnovers extend past just Cunningham. It’s a team-wide issue. If Detroit hopes to compete for a playoff spot, it has to piece together a solution for the turnovers.
Lack of secondary ballhandling
Cunningham is without a doubt dynamic with the ball in his hands. He’s a threat at all times to create for himself or others. But once he subs out for rest, it can get dicey for the Pistons.
Detroit is near the bottom of the NBA standings at 23 assists per game over its last 10 matchups without Ivey. Backup point guard Marcus Sasser has shown an ability to get hot and knock down shots in a hurry and has led the Pistons in assists once this season. Whatever the remedy is for its lack of a secondary ballhandler, Detroit needs to find it quickly.
Six losses by seven or fewer points
The Pistons have shown their youth in six specific losses during the first half. Detroit lost each by seven or fewer points, and each of the six can be traced back to miscues ranging from missed free throws to a missed boxout on Brandon Miller.
This issue, much like the turnovers and lack of secondary ballhandling, will need to be addressed fast. Thankfully for the Pistons, two of the three simply boil down to effort. Which Detroit is in full control of.
Underrated
Can Jalen Duren continue strong play of late?
The 21-year-old big man seems to be rounding into form. He’s averaging 11.9 points on 73.1 percent shooting and 11.2 boards this month. More than the numbers, though, Duren seems to be giving maximum effort on both sides of the ball. Duren is a combined plus-51 over his last 11 games.
The Pistons are a different team when Duren brings a high level of intensity and competes on both sides of the ball.
Isaiah Stewart’s rim protection
Stewart is best known for his no-nonsense approach to the game, but as of late, his defense has been his calling card. He’s tied for eighth in the NBA in total blocks over the last 11 games, coinciding with Detroit’s games in January. Stewart has more games with multiple rejections (16) than he does games without any (11) this season.
He’s got a handful of signature blocks this season. And even when Stewart isn’t meeting opposing players at the summit, he’s altering the layups they attempt around the rim. When he’s on the floor, Stewart is the Pistons’ defensive anchor.
Tim Hardaway Jr., Tobias Harris having their best months
Aside from the veteran leadership both Hardaway and Harris provide this group, the OGs of the bunch have been hooping in January.
Hardaway is averaging his most points of any month this season, and three of his four games with at least 20 points have come this month. Harris is having his highest-scoring month on his most efficient shooting percentages. Harris is posting a 50/43.6/95.2 shooting clip and averaging 14.5 points.
Hopefully for Detroit fans, Hardaway and Harris can keep guiding this team both on the hardwood and in the locker room.
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Final thoughts
Simply put: The Pistons are exceeding expectations and have postseason aspirations. Detroit is on pace for 42 wins after going 14-68 last season.
Cunningham is coming into his own, Ivey will hopefully return to his career-best play once he returns, the youngsters are showing promise and the bigs are playing well on defense. There’s a level of optimism around this team that hasn’t existed in the last few years. Cunningham and coach J.B. Bickerstaff have been vocal about this team’s desire to reach the postseason.
The Pistons trail the Atlanta Hawks by a half-game for the sixth seed and will play in Atlanta on Wednesday.
(Photo: Logan Riely / NBAE via Getty Images)
