Detroit Pistons: The bright spot of the season so far

With an 0-3 record to start off the season, and Cade Cunningham having yet to make his debut, the fate of the Detroit Pistons’ young season remains cloudy.

However, one piece of Detroit’s future is slowly becoming clearer.

In three games, Saddiq Bey is averaging 18.0 points, 10.7 rebounds, and 2.7 assists, shooting 46.8 percent from the field, and 80 percent from the free throw line.

While the sample size from this season is still incredibly small, Bey’s early performance is a stepping stone from a rookie year that garnered All-Rookie First Team honors.

Bey is currently only shooting a mere 23.5 percent from three, but it’s fair to say this number will drastically improve sooner than later.

Operating as an inside outside threat, Bey’s scoring output as a rookie consisted of shooting 55  percent in the restricted area, along with 40.9 percent from 16-24 feet out, and 38 percent from three.

The Villanova product has picked up where he left off last season, upping his scoring average by 5.8 points, leading Detroit in rebounds, and embracing his role as a multi-dimensional scorer.

Detroit Pistons: Saddiq Bey is not just 3-and-D

Bey’s size (6-foot-7, 215 pounds), enables him to back down smaller players for turnaround jumpers, layups, or dump-offs at the rim. With a tightened handle, we’ve also gotten to see Bey get downhill, or create space for a pull-up jumper from deep.

Whether it’s for himself or others, Bey’s ability to read a defense while operating in the post and mid-range area should begin to generate looks for an offense that has struggled significantly out of the gate.

Catch and shoot threes have also been a long-standing staple in Bey’s game, dating back to his days at Villanova, and he should continue to accumulate points from deep with the arrival of Cunningham.

Nonetheless, Bey’s ability to hit catch and shoot jumpers, pull-ups, and shots out of isolations or plays as the sole creator are all capable of fitting in alongside virtually any offense, and gives Detroit numerous ways to use him.

Once again, although the season is young, Saddiq Bey is showing an improvement upon the refined scoring arsenal we saw last season. If these games are a sign of what’s yet to come, the Detroit Pistons will have a burgeoning go-to scorer on their hands.