Detroit Pistons: 3 NBA stars Killian Hayes should study this offseason

Detroit Pistons: Jrue Holiday can teach Hayes how to be an even better defender.

Defense has been one of Hayes’ strengths so far in his NBA career. The 6-5 point guard uses his length to alter opponents’ drives to the basket and even hold his own in the paint. The rookie also had good lateral quickness that allows him to stay in front of ball handlers and players moving off the ball. He also has active hands as he is able to pick-pocket his opponents and redirect or intercept passes.

The 19-year-old is not without his flaws on defense, however. Hayes has occasional lapses on defense which cause him to be out of position and award opponents a wide-open shooter. He also struggles with screens as he often gets trapped by them.

Hayes is a good defensive player, but if he wants to become a great or even elite defender, there are aspects of his game he must improve to reach the next level. If Hayes wants to improve his defensive prowess, Jrue Holiday would be a good player to study.

The 6-3 guard is a two-time member of the NBA’s All-Defensive teams. The former UCLA Bruin is a formidable defender to match up against. Holiday is one of the smartest defenders in the NBA.

By studying Holiday, Hayes can improve on his struggles against screens. Holiday is very good at attacking screens and is adept at knowing when to go over and when to slide under them.

Holiday has had success defending some of the league’s biggest stars. The point guard might not always shut his opponents down, but he is respected by his peers as one of the NBA’s best on-ball defenders. As Hayes develops his defense, studying Holiday would allow him to pick up a trick or two when he himself is matched up against the league’s best scorers.

Defense is not Hayes’ primary concern heading into his sophomore year, but as the Detroit Pistons looks to build a contender in the coming years, they will look to have one of the league’s top defenses. Hayes will be a major contributor to the success of this Pistons team, and developing into one of the league’s better defenders will go a long way towards contending for a championship.