Reggie Jackson has been the subject of criticism all year. This has caused the Detroit Pistons to be in trade rumors for other point guards, but Jackson has played well as of late. Has he turned the corner?
The Detroit Pistons have dealt with a point guard issue all year. This has led to the front office being involved in multiple trade rumors involving point guards across the league.
In the past, Reggie Jackson had been slowed down due to injuries to his ankle and knee. However, this year he’s been healthy all year; but, he just hasn’t been the same.
It can’t be all placed on Jackson. He’s dealt with a new role due to the arrival of Blake Griffin, inside of a new system with Dwane Casey as head coach. He went from running pick and roll almost every play, to playing off-ball and shooting catch and shoot threes to contribute.
It’s been a struggle for Jackson all year, as he’s shooting 34 percent on a career high attempts per game from deep (5.7). His usage rate went from 29, 26, and 27 in his first three years in Detroit, all the way down to 22 this year.
To add on top of this, Jackson didn’t have an off-season to prepare, as he was too busy rehabbing to get healthy.
Jackson hasn’t been dealt the best hand, and some think he’s been flat ousted as the scapegoat. But, Jackson hasn’t done much to better his situation and win all the chips in the middle of the table.
That is until recently.
As said above, Jackson didn’t have an off-season to prepare or get into basketball shape. Casey has said at numerous times this season that Jackson is still catching up, trying to get himself into better condition.
This undoubtedly has had an effect on his play this season.
The crazy thing is, Jackson has showed the burst we saw back when he led the Pistons to the playoffs in 2016 for the first time since the 2008 season. Jackson has as many dunks (9) this season so far, than he did in the last two seasons combined.
But, it’s only been in spurts. He’s been incapable off stringing along multiple games, heck, even consecutive quarters of this kind of burst.
Again, some of it definitely has to do with his new role in a criticized Casey offense, but missing the off-season has had more of an impact.
In the last six game, though, Jackson has not only played extremely well, he has looked the part of Jackson from 2016.
In his last six games, Jackson is averaging 19.0 points, 6.2 assists to only .8 turnovers a game. He is shooting 49.4 percent from the field and 43 percent from beyond the arc, which is good for a 62 percent true shooting percentage.
The Detroit Pistons have played well in these game due to Jackson’s emergence. The Pistons suffered a heartbreaking loss to the Clippers after losing a 25 point lead; but, as Griffin noted after the Nuggets win, the Pistons have been playing well and played well for the majority of the Clippers game.
They may have lost, but after a very convincing 26 point win over the Denver Nuggets, there is no doubt the team has been playing better as of late.
Along with some noticeable scheme changes to the Detroit Pistons offense, could this be the signal that the team is starting to come around?
Who knows.
The Pistons and Jackson’s recent play could lead to the front office deciding to stay pat at the trade deadline, and waiting to make more serious moves in the off-season.
Jackson will likely have till then to prove that this recent streak is actually him getting his burst back, and not just a short hot streak.
Speaking of hot streak; a hot streak and a hot hand DEFINITELY exists. Anyone who says it doesn’t exist doesn’t has never hooped and is all about the #numberz.
Okay, I’m done.
Do you guys think Jackson has turned the corner?
Let us know down below in the comment section!