The Detroit Pistons go small-ball
During its NBA title run, the Golden State Warriors would run out its ‘Death Lineup‘ with 6-foot-6 Michigan native Draymond Green at center. Filled with athletic and smart defensive players, the Warriors would suffocate opponents and provide matchup nightmares on offense.
Thanks to Cade Cunningham, the Pistons could run out their version of the ‘Death Lineup’, featuring Green’s Olympic teammate Jerami Grant in the middle.
If coach Dwane Casey wants to value speed over size, he could go with a super-fast lineup:
- Point guard: Saben Lee
- Shooting guard: Killian Hayes
- Center: Jerami Grant
- Power forward: Cade Cunningham
- Small forward: Hamidou Diallo
Cunningham has the size (6-8, 220) to play a small ball ‘4’. He would be a matchup nightmare for the other team’s power forward to try and guard. Cunningham is not the greatest athlete, he uses his basketball IQ and skill to get by opponents. But, against power forward’s he would have the advantage in speed and quickness. He would go to town in those matchups.
We are putting Saben Lee nominally at at point guard but Hayes certainly will help with the ballhandling. The pair played very well together at the end of last season, Lee with his speed and Hayes with his smarts. Hayes even talked about how much he liked playing with Lee.
Lee is also an elite athlete so he could lock down the other team’s point guard. Hayes is not bad on defense either. Diallo moves to the forward slot, which he can handle defensively and would be a tough matchup on offense.
With Grant and Cunningham facing big, slower players, they would feast in pickup roles or on the fast break. They would have to fight hard on defense but with some good help defense, they should be fine.
And what of Saddiq Bey? The first team All-Rookie and temporary member of the USA Olympic team? Super sixth man would be his role. Bey loves to shoot three-pointers and he would be encouraged to fire away.
The one weakness with the small-ball starters is outside shooting. Grant and Cunningham would probably be their best shooters, although Diallo and Lee did show signs of improving their three-point shots at the end of last year.
Bey can be moved into the lineup and Lee come off the bench against lineup like the 76ers and Bucks who might have too much size to go small-ball.
This lineup would be super fun to watch, with lots of fast breaks and movement. Even if this is not their main lineup, do not be surprised if you see this lineup at some point in the season.