Detroit Pistons: Roles are changing in the NBA
Positionless basketball does not mean players will not line up in specific positions. Rather it simply means players will not be strictly held to traditional position roles.
For example, Isaiah Stewart will still line up as the team’s center, but he will not be restricted to protecting the paint at all times. In some moments Stewart will be in the paint as a rim protector. At others, he will be defending a man on the perimeter while someone like Grant or Olynyk slides into the paint as a low post defender.
Overall switchability will be a key component of Detroit’s defense in this new style of basketball. Weaver has brought in many players who have large enough frames to hold their ground against bully-ball post-ups down low. Those same players also possess enough athleticism and lateral quickness to keep in front of quick wing players on the perimeter. And of course, they also have long arms to disrupt passing lanes and poke the ball free.
These traits make switching on defense very easy for Detroit to do. Stewart and Saddiq Bey can switch onto each others’ man because they are both quick and strong enough to play the post or along the perimeter. This kind of versatility is seen across Detroit’s roster.
While this may be a stronger case with some players than others, general switchability will make Detroit a much more potent defensive team.
Mismatches will still be an issue for Detroit under this style of play, but the generally lengthy and athletic roster will limit most mismatches to actual defensive ability rather than size mismatches.
It is much harder for a power forward to take advantage of switching onto Detroit’s point guard when that point guard is a 6-8 Cunningham. It is harder for a point guard to take advantage of switching onto a center when that center has good lateral quickness like Stewart.
The Pistons roster is full of players who can defend multiple positions and that will always make them a stronger defensive team.
Playing a positionless game of basketball will make Detroit a more dynamic, versatile, and exciting team to watch. A swiped ball by Cunningham, while he’s defending a player in the low post or a rebound in the paint by Killian Hayes, will initiate Detroit’s transition offense much more quickly than if Stewart or Olynyk grab a board and have to find either of the two guards for a handoff first.
Being able to quickly get into transition will help make Detroit a more lethal offense, but transition offenses can get stalled. In those moments the Pistons would immensely benefit from developing a motion-heavy offense.