Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham and Jerami Grant are a perfect duo

Detroit Pistons: Cade Cunningham and Jerami Grant could be a dynamic pick-and-roll duo

The pick-and-roll is one of the most basic and most often used offensive plays in the NBA. The play offers mismatches on defensive switches, open drives to the basket when the ball-handler is doubled, and open shots when the defense drops on the screen.

Pairing Grant and Cunningham together on pick-and-roll plays would make for a much more dynamic offense for Detroit in 2021-22.

Cunningham’s college tape shows a player adept at taking advantage of the many different ways defenses will attack the pick-and-roll. The point guard can easily pass out of double teams to the open roller or an open shooter along the perimeter. He is also able to read the defense and attack the rim with ease.

Both Grant and Cunningham have the ability to score from all three levels of the basketball court. This strength lends itself perfectly to attacking one of the league’s most common tactics against the pick-and-roll.

Many teams in the NBA enter drop coverage in their pick-and-roll defense. The idea is to keep the center in a position to protect the paint while allowing perimeter defenders to stick to their marks outside. This tactic works well against players driving to the basket as the center is in a position to force a difficult attempt, but drop coverage also has one fatal weakness.

This post-season, the Phoenix Suns are taking advantage of teams who utilize drop coverage by simply taking mid-range shots off the pick-and-roll. Chris Paul and Devin Booker have taken advantage of the open shots from mid-range that drop coverage provides them. Opposing teams have had no choice but to abandon the tactic. Defenders are forced to collapse and provide help defense on the ball-handler. As a result, perimeter shooters are left open for a quick outlet pass.

With Grant and Cunningham able to shoot respectably from mid-range, the pair can take advantage of drop coverage in the pick-and-roll just like Paul and Booker are able to for the Suns.

Additionally, the pair’s ability to score from all three levels will provide more options when Grant is the one screening for Cunningham. Grant’s ability to shoot the three-ball and drive to the basket will allow him to either roll to the basket or pop out to the three-point line depending on how the defense tries to attack the play. More options on simple plays will create a much more dynamic offense for the Pistons next season.