Player grades: Detroit Pistons have many players underachieving
The second unit
Langston Galloway
I like that Dwane Casey has given Langston Galloway a much bigger leash than he had a season ago. Stan Van Gundy didn’t utilize the streak shooter enough in his first season with the Pistons.
He played in just 58 games a season ago.
He’s coming off the bench nightly for Casey and is making an impact more times than not. Right now, his numbers might not exactly show that.
Much like Bullock, Galloway had a very promising month of November. He was shooting 43 percent from the field and 40 percent from three-point range.
The month of December hasn’t been as kind to him. With Ish Smith and Stanley Johnson out for the time being, Galloway is this team’s best player coming off the bench.
I believe it’s only a matter of time before his shots start to fall with more regularity as his confidence seems to be much higher than last season.
Grade: C+
Zaza Pachulia
During free agency, the Pistons went out and signed veteran big man Zaza Pachulia for a one-year deal. Many thought this might have been a questionable signing because of Eric Moreland‘s performance last season.
Moreland would soon get released by the team for Zaza. After game one of the season, Zaza would prove to be a good signing.
He would drop 6 points, 7 rebounds and 4 assists while playing good defense. Almost every Pistons fan can agree that the saying is true.
You hate him when he’s on the other team, but love him when he’s on yours. On the season he’s played well enough to warrant play time in all 24 games so far this season. His screen setting has been most helpful for the Pistons offense.
Grade: C+
Ish Smith
Ish Smith is the Detroit Pistons’ resident firecracker. When he’s on the court, there is an instantaneous adrenaline that affects the Pistons’ lineup and spacing.
Smith’s speed is his most endearing quality. When Smith brings the ball up the court, his speed allows him to create his own shot by penetrating defenses with balance and precision.
If there is no shot, Smith’s willingness to shelve off a pass and set a slip screen to free himself up for a better play-making opportunity is a highlight.
He’s unselfish on every possession and looking to make the best play, not for himself, but in the name of team productivity.
Smith’s three-point percentage of 32.9 is down from last year’s 34.7 percent partially because he is shooting more threes. When Coach Dwane Casey came into the organization, he changed how everyone viewed their offensive position on the floor.
Subsequently, Ish is averaging just over two additional three-pointers in a game as a part of the new shot matrix. With greater range, comes greater responsibility and the buck is on Smith to become a more reliable catch-and-shoot player in Casey’s drive-and-kick system.
Right now, the reserve guard averages 29.7 percent in catch-and-shoot jumpers.
Defensively, Smith is average. His speed allows him to recover when he’s in poor defensive position, but the technique an anticipation are somewhat lacking.
Still, he never gives up on a play, which is an intensity that the Pistons can only thrive off of.
When he returns from his adductor tear,, Smith will be welcomed with open arms. His value to Detroit’s bench and ability to spark the Pistons’ offense is terribly, terribly missed.
Grade: C
Stanley Johnson
It would be an incomplete statement to say that Stanley Johnson has been balling out of control since Stan Van Gundy departed. He started the season off rough before being moved to the bench unit.
However, it is fair to say that Johnson has found a comfortable space under the new regime.
Dwane Casey has played Johnson 6.6 minutes less over his first 21 games than Stan Van Gundy did, but the wing defender is averaging a higher usage rate than he did in the previous season.
This is a direct result in Johnson’s confidence both on-and-off the ball. A boost that came from Coach Casey’s ability to define what it was that Johnson needed to be.
Defensively, Johnson has been Detroit’s best wing defender due to his strength and downhill speed. Players shoot 30.1 percent from outside 15-feet when he is their defensive match-up.
These are not bottom of the barrel offensive pieces he is battling either. From Kevin Durant to Kawhi Leonard, Johnson has been tasked this season to use his physical tools to become the Pistons’ most versatile stopper.
So far, it has paid off in dividends for the Detroit Pistons
Unfortunately, Johnson’s offensive stroke is still inconsistent. He attempts most of his shots off the pass, but is only averaging 27.5 percent in those catch-and-shoot opportunities.
One of Casey’s teaching points for the Detroit Pistons is the shot matrix and where that places players on the court.
For Johnson to cap-size his potential, he will need to become a more fluid three-point shooter and force defenses to play high to cover him.
His knee injury currently has him sidelined and unable to stop the slide that the Detroit Pistons are on right now. However, it shows how integral he is to Detroit’s brand of winning basketball.