A surprising Pistons lineup that could play important minutes

The Detroit Pistons have only played one preseason game, but a few things are already clear. 

We can’t overreact too much to one sloppy game, but the Pistons’ spacing and defense were noticeably better at times, two key issues from last season. 

It also looks as if JB Bickerstaff will have much better options coming off his bench than the Pistons had last season, which will give him the chance to throw out some wild, disruptive lineups. 

Isaiah Stewart and Ron Holland II showed that they can change the game defensively, as they came in and the Pistons had more energy. Jaden Ivey will provide this spark as well, maybe not on defense, but with his ability to go end-to-end as fast as anyone in the league. 

Sprinkle in a bit more hustle, shooting and defense and the Pistons have an interesting 2nd-unit option when they need to get a defensive stop or want to change the pace of the game. 

This Pistons lineup could see some action 

The thing I am looking forward to most this season is watching Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland play together defensively. Neither of them can shoot, but they will defend all over the floor, cause chaos, grab rebounds and are weapons in transition. 

So, when Ausar does return, I’d love to see this bench unit unleashed for a few minutes a game: 

-Jaden Ivey 

-Ron Holland  

-Ausar Thompson 

-Simone Fontecchio 

-Isaiah Stewart 

This unit could have some spacing issues on offense, but the point of this group is not to grind it out in the half court, it’s to get stops and get out and run. 

This group would be everywhere defensively, as everyone but Ivey is switchable and Holland and Thompson are plus rebounders for their positions. Every secured miss could turn into a fast break with this group on the floor. 

Obviously, playing two wings who can’t shoot is problematic, but this lineup poses its own problems to opponents in terms of athleticism, defense and speed. 

JB Bickerstaff has the personnel to run out some fun lineups this season and has already shown the willingness to stagger Ivey and Cade Cunningham to keep one of them on the floor nearly all of the time. 

This is a lineup that can lean into Ivey’s speed while covering his defensive weaknesses on the perimeter. It’s not something the Pistons are likely to use in long stretches, but it shows one of the many options coach Bickerstaff has this season as he tries to establish more of a defensive identity in Detroit.