Win or lose, the Detroit Pistons know what to improve on in the off-season

Whether the Detroit Pistons win or lose the series versus the Milwaukee Bucks, they know what to improve on in free agency and the NBA Draft.

The Detroit Pistons are currently losing their first round match-up against the Milwaukee Bucks. They are down 2 games to 0 and travel home to play their first playoff game in Little Caesars Arena.

They have been blown out in both games at Milwaukee; losing by 35 points in game one and 21 points in game two.

They are of course without their all-star Blake Griffin. Blake is questionable to play in the first round series. His knee has kept him sidelined for the Pistons in the last 11 days.

Assuming the Pistons lose in the first round against the Bucks, they will go into the off-season early scouting college prospects and free agents.

The Bucks have done a good job exposing the Pistons’ biggest weakness; a reliable wing player. Specifically a player that can switch between the three and the four position.

Giannis Antetokounmpo has torched Thon Maker and the Pistons. He’s averaging 25 points per game, 14.5 rebounds per game, and 4 assists per game on 57.1 percent shooting! Absurd stats that the Pistons have found no way of lowering.

Although being a poor defender, Blake Griffin would obviously be a better fit to defend Giannis. Thon Maker is too weak and slower on his feet to be able to contain Giannis.

Still though the Pistons could use someone who they could play at the three while also having the duties of guarding Giannis and other dominant forwards that could potentially hurt the Pistons.

The Pistons had Stanley Johnson to fill that role. But they decided it was best to trade him away in order to get Thon Maker.

Another position to improve on is the backup center. Zaza Pachulia was signed to replace Eric Moreland. Although Zaza was good at the beginning of the season, he easily became one of the two worst Piston players on the roster. More and more as games went on he had become unplayable.

Zaza did not receive minutes in game 2. Andre Drummond was forced to play 37 minutes. And Casey was forced to play a smaller lineup at times due to the fact that Zaza has become unplayable.

In the last 35 games, the Pistons were a -11.4 points per 100 possessions worse when Zaza was on the court and 7.9 points per 100 possessions better when he was off the court.

The Pistons need to improve on a structural reliable offense. The Pistons offense was everywhere throughout a good portion of the season. From a moving offense. To Blake Griffin post-ups. And eventually to an offense ran through Reggie Jackson.

Dwane Casey never found an offensive scheme to stick with. The Pistons were 20-14 in the games where Casey handed over the offense to Jackson.

The Pistons attempted 10.6 shots per game with the shotclock running under 5 seconds. Their 10.6 shots per game is the highest in the entire league. If they find a reliable offense, they could find it easier to score with more time on the clock.

And lastly, the Pistons need to snag better three-point shooters. The Pistons rely on three-point shooters Reggie Jackson, Luke Kennard, Wayne Ellington, Blake Griffin, and Glenn Robinson III to make shots.

But when these players aren’t hitting their shots, the team struggles to get anything done offensively. Langston Galloway shot 34.7 percent on wide open(6+ feet) threes. Bruce Brown shot 31.3 percent on wide open attempts. Glenn Robinson III shot 29.2 percent. And even former Piston Stanley Johnson shot 31 percent.

It’s one thing to not hit a contested three. But when they are wide open, it’s hard not to ask the players to hit those shots.

If the Pistons do these things in the off-season, look for a much improved record.