4 things to watch for the Detroit Pistons after the All-Star break
3. The rookie
Sekou Doumbouya entered the league as an 18-year-old raw wing with potential. A glimpse of that potential was shown as his first periods of significant time were against Kawhi Leonard, Draymond Green and LeBron James. Doumbouya more than held his home.
The now-19-year-old would score in double figures in seven of eight games, including those three. But he’s entered a cold stretch ever since, sometimes looking lost defensively and struggling offensively.
He’s hit a rookie wall. Hard.
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Over his last 14 appearances, Doumbouya has scored in double figures once. During that stretch, he is 26 for 95 from the floor. Don’t get out the calculators — that’s 27.4% from the floor. It includes an 11-for-43 (25.6%) stretch from 3-point range.
Given his struggles, and Casey pondering a trip to the Grand Rapids Drive, it’s something to watch how he responds after a week off. Perhaps Pistons fans can find solace in how he responded after getting benched for a game. He went 6 for 12 and scored 17 points, grabbing five rebounds in a five-point win against the Nuggets.
Will the Pistons get a smiling, fun-having kid? Or will his struggles continue? His confidence needs to be restored, however that may come.