Detroit Pistons: 3 biggest positives from preseason loss vs. the Knicks

The Detroit Pistons are getting to the line

The only reason the Pistons weren’t blown out in this one was that they made up for their terrible shooting by getting to the free-throw line.

The Pistons lived at the line, taking 23 attempts and knocking down 17 of them, which is not great, but it did keep them in the game.

The Pistons don’t have many shooters, especially with Cade Cunningham out with injury, but they do have a number of guys who can get to the rim and collect fouls.

Jerami Grant, Frank Jackson and Hamidou Diallo all got to the line repeatedly against the Knicks, which somewhat made up for their poor shooting.

If the Pistons long-range shots aren’t going down, which they won’t be a lot of nights, the Pistons are going to have to use their athleticism to get to the rim and draw fouls.

Grant was very good at this last season and has been so far again in the preseason, but the Pistons will also need guys like Josh Jackson to step up in this department.

Grant, Josh Jackson, Frank Jackson, Hamidou Diallo and Kelly Olynyk were a combined 6-of-26 from 3-point range but they went 15-of-20 from the line, which isn’t great, but kept the Knicks in foul trouble and the Pistons in the game.

This will be a strength the Pistons can lean on all season or until they get some shooters.