Pistons vs. Thunder: How Detroit can make a similar leap

Pistons vs. Thunder: How Detroit can make a similar leap

#3: Find an identity

The Thunder are not a great defensive team, as they are just 20th in the NBA in points allowed per game, but they are a very good offensive team, scoring the 5th-most points per game in the league this season.

Detroit is consistently bad on both ends, with the 28th ranked offense and defense. The two complement each other, as having a good offense makes teams take the ball out of the net, reduces fast breaks and allows the defense to get set.

Having a good defense sets up the offense by creating more fast breaks, getting some easy buckets and not always having to grind it out in the half court.

The Detroit Pistons don’t have to be top-10 on both ends to be successful, but they have to make a leap on one or the other. This would start by improving their defensive rebounding, so that they aren’t giving up so many easy second-chance points, and are closing out possessions to create transition opportunities.

Detroit is also dead last in the NBA in shooting percentage, so they have to get more players who can shoot to help improve their woeful offense. Troy Weaver has repeatedly said that he wants to build this team’s identity around defense, but has so far not assembled the cast to do it, as guys like James Wiseman and Marvin Bagley III are hardly inspiring defenders.

If they can’t get into the top half of the league in defense, then they need to be much better on offense or vice versa, but they need to have some kind of identity next season.

I know some of you are thinking “FIND A NEW COACH” and it’s possible that will happen, but the Pistons have given no indication that they plan to fire Dwane Casey, so until they do, that one is still a big question mark.