Detroit Pistons’ patience with Killian Hayes is paying off

Detroit Pistons: What has changed for Killian Hayes?

It seems that coach Dwane Casey’s mid-season decision to move Hayes to the bench unit has paid dividends. On top of this, some of the late-season lineups the Detroit Pistons have been rolling out have lended themselves to increased opportunities for the younger guys on the roster who are itching to leave a lasting impression on the coaching staff heading into the offseason – and impress they have.

Of course, a move to the second unit cannot be looked upon as the sole reason for Hayes’ improvements. It is abundantly clear that he is attacking his opponents with a newfound level of confidence and aggressiveness. His drives to the rim seem much more intentional than they have in the past. He isn’t shying away from contact, and is playing with a swagger sends a clear message to whoever is tasked with guarding him: “try and stop me”.

Perhaps the most impressive part of his newly-employed offensive approach is that it hasn’t come at the expense of his previously established strengths, specifically his playmaking.

Despite his scoring spike – he’s averaging 13 points per game in this six-game stretch since his 82nd game, compared with his overall season average 6.7 – he’s still as consistent as ever in terms of his passing.

When his drives prove fruitless, he seems to have a heater of a kick out loaded at all times. His vision remains his best skill, and the flashes for which he was drafted 7th overall are becoming much more frequent.

Here’s an example of the vision and awareness he maintains while driving to the hoop when a defender cut off his lane:

Whether he’s looking to call his own number or get his teammates involved, time and time again he seems to be making the right basketball play. For a player who’s decision making has been relentlessly besmirched by his naysayers, Hayes is on a mission to prove them all wrong.