Detroit Pistons vs. Atlanta Hawks 2019-20 preview
Pistons defensive matchup
Everything starts and stops with Trae Young, who averaged 19.3 points and 7 assists per game in the series with Detroit. The Pistons threw several defenders at him, including Stanley Johnson, Reggie Bullock, Langston Galloway, Jackson and Bruce Brown.
If Brown is the best on-ball defender the Pistons have, then he should draw the assignment more times than not. His quickness to stick with Young is an asset where taking away penetration will take Young out of his offense. He only hit five 3-pointers in the series, all of which came in his 30-point game.
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Beyond that, the Pistons need to defend without fouling. Atlanta shot 84 free throws in three games and connected 78.6 percent of the time. There’s no defense for uncontested shots with the clock stopped, so that’s a point of emphasis.
The new-look Hawks will have their fair share of 3-point struggles this season. Of the new additions, only Crabbe is a reliable threat. He converted 37.8 percent of 3-point attempts last season, which is lower than his 39.3 career percentage.
Keeping Atlanta out of the paint and off the charity stripe will be key.