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How the Detroit Pistons are addressing last season’s 3-point shooting woes

By David Borowicz

Detroit Pistons Luke Kennard. (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images)
Detroit Pistons Luke Kennard. (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Detroit Pistons
DETROIT, MI – APRIL 22: Luke Kennard #5 of the Detroit Pistons handles the ball against the Milwaukee Bucks during Game Four of Round One of the 2019 NBA Playoffs on April 22, 2019 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Integrate Luke Kennard into the offense more

Pistons fans went into last season hoping to see Luke Kennard take a big step towards silencing critics who claimed we should have taken Donovan Mitchell in the draft instead. While Kennard’s regular season statistics were rather similar to the ones he posted his rookie season – 9.6 points, 2.9 rebounds, 1.8 assists shooting 39.4 percent from three in 2018-2019 compared to 7.6 points, 2.4 rebounds, 1.7 assists shooting 41.5 percent from three in 2017-2018 – the playoffs were the time when Kennard showed he deserved an increased role in the Pistons offense.

With Blake Griffin out the first few games of the playoff series against the Milwaukee Bucks, Kennard was thrust into the role as lead scorer for the Pistons and he shined in the role.

Over the course of the four game sweep Kennard averaged 15 points, 4 rebounds, and 1.8 assists per game shooting 48.9 percent from the field and a red hot 60 percent from three.

Related Story. Should Luke Kennard come off the bench?. light

Even though this sample size of games is small, it is a sign that Kennard is the real deal and is ready to become a bigger part of this Pistons team for the future. Whether or not Kennard is a starter this upcoming season or is leading the bench unit, the Pistons need to find a way to get Kennard more touches.

He has shown he is a capable scorer, play maker, and a lethal 3-point sniper (40.3 percent from three for his career). One of the simplest and most logical things the Pistons can do to aid their 3-point shooting troubles is to allow their best shooter to do what he does best.

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