Are the Detroit Pistons trying to recreate their patented gritty defense of years ago?
Whether you like the prospects Troy Weaver went with on draft night, one thing is extremely apparent. Weaver and company will not stand for below average defense any longer. Both of Detroit’s selections are said to have excellent defensive abilities and instincts, something Pistons players have lacked for a few seasons, until now.
Traditional Detroit Defense
Detroit is synonymous with tough defense, in all sports really, but especially in basketball. Going back to the Bad Boys, coming to Detroit to play Isiah Thomas, Bill Lambieer, Joe Dumars and Dennis Rodman meant you were going to have to grind for each point. There was no such thing as an easy basket against that squad and driving into the key meant you were going to get roughed up.
Fast forward to the early aughts and the Goin’ to Work Pistons renewed the lockdown, grind it out defensive mindset with Billups, Hamilton, Prince, Wallace and Wallace. Many would put that team up with the ‘84 Bears as one of the best defenses ever assembled for their particular sport. That squad of ragtag all-stars would hold their opponents to under 70 points 11 times with five coming in a row. Whether it was the guards defending the perimeter or the Detroit big men down low blocking anything coming their way, Detroit held their opponents to just 84.26 points per game during the regular season and then just 80.7 in the playoffs, both league records.
Recent Detroit Pistons defensive numbers
Since going to the Eastern Conference Finals six years in a row ending in 2008, the Detroit Pistons’ defense has been less than acceptable to say the least. Looking more recently, Detroit has ranked in the bottom four defensive teams in the league in each of the last four seasons, coming in as the worst squad most recently in 2023. Last season, Detroit had a defensive rating of about 118, giving up over 110 points and 11.4 three pointers per game. The 2022-2023 Pistons team would finish as a top three worst defense in NBA history.
Infusion of new talent to get back to basics
It’s exactly because of these most recent defensive struggles that Weaver and the front office made defense an absolute priority in this past draft by selecting Ausar Thompson and Marcus Sasser. We recently did a defensive breakdown on the newest Piston, Ausar Thompson, and what he brings to Detroit. Thompson has the athleticism to defend anyone slotted 1-3 and the work ethic to continue improving against the best in the league. He may have a few bad habits to break, but the 6-foot-7 wing led his Overtime Elite squad with 4.2 stocks (2.8 steals + 1.4 blocks), while only committing 1.7 fouls per game. His quickness allows him to beat the ball handler to their own spot, and his defensive instincts make him a great help defender, both on the perimeter or down low if need be.
While Thompson may be a help-all fly around the court defender, Marcus Sasser excels in keeping his defender in front of him and absolutely locking them down. Named to the Naismith Defensive Player of the Year watchlist, Sasser used his discipline and quick twitch abilities to average almost two steals per game while at Houston. Even with his physical, pest-like defense, Sasser only committed two fouls per 40 minutes while at Houston, a mark that is extremely impressive.
It’s up to these two, plus a potential free agent or two (possibly Cam Johnson, a fantastic defender in his own right) to breathe life into Detroit’s defense. Additionally, I expect Jalen Duren to continue developing as an elite shot blocker down low, and Isaiah Stewart as a switchable defensive chess piece. If you add the improvement of these two to the newcomers, you begin to see the gritty defensive mindset here in Detroit. It’s time offensive juggernauts loath coming to play against the Detroit Pistons once again.