After an impressive rookie season that ended in a first-team All-Rookie selection, Saddiq Bey took another step in his second year for the Detroit Pistons, posting 16.1 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 2.8 assists while starting all 82 games.
In just two years, Bey has become an important piece of the Pistons’ future, and an ideal running mate to their franchise point guard, Cade Cunningham.
Here’s a list of three things Bey can improve on for next season, and how they’ll benefit both him and the Pistons moving forward.
Detroit Pistons: 3 things Saddiq Bey needs to improve
#1: Paint finishing in the non-restricted area
In his short time in the NBA, Bey has struggled to convert within this odd spot in the paint. In his rookie year, Bey shot 34.3 percent from the non-restricted paint area, on 70 attempts.
In his second year, Bey shot more than twice as many shots from this area, yet only converted on 47 out of 148 shots, for an average of 31.8 percent. While Bey’s drastic increase in shot attempts from this spot show an obvious ability to get into the paint, finishing within this range has been a struggle. One possible alternative could be adding a floater to occasionally use, or even attempting more bank shots on drives from the left or right.
These shots, while not fully equipped in Bey’s arsenal (he attempted only nine bank shots last season and seventeen floaters last season), could alleviate his shooting woes in a spot that he often gets to, and add a few additional points to his per game average.
Another suitable option could be utilizing these paint touches to create for others, or finding dump-off routes to big men located around the rim.
In today’s era, paint touches and three-point shooting are necessities to a good offense.
By converting more in this spot on the floor, or utilizing this space to create for others when defenses converge, Bey could unlock another level for his ever-expanding game, and allow the Detroit Pistons to capitalize more often in a spot that he utilizes so frequently.