Pistons: How Kelly Olynyk will help Cade Cunningham and Killian Hayes
Detroit Pistons: Kelly Olynyk is going to create space for Cade Cunningham and Killian Hayes to go to work
When you have two ball handling guards who both like to beat defenders with dribble penetration, then having a guy who can draw defenders away from them is a must.
Plumlee was a good passer for the Pistons, but he mostly just stood at the top of the key or in the paint, hogging up a ton of space that could have been utilized by Killian Hayes.
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Plumlee’s defenders were able to stay at home in the lane and provide backup if Hayes beat his man off the dribble.
Olynyk is going to draw centers away from the paint, as he can shoot the 3-ball and has to be accounted for, unlike Plumlee who any team would gladly let fire away from anywhere on the floor.
If teams want to double team Cade Cunningham, then Olynyk is another guy who can make them pay for it.
He’s going to make it easier for Cunningham and Hayes to get into the lane and finish by taking some of the rim protectors away from their favorite spots.
The floor should be much more open and teams will have to respect the Pistons’ 3-point shooting, which wasn’t true last season.