The Detroit Pistons cannot get caught in the trap of stagnation. They cannot stall out after being the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference last season (but losing to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round). And actually, Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren may have a chance to help each other in a way that could improve the future of the Pistons.
Both guys need to add something to their offensive games. Neither is a great player on that end of the floor just yet. Both are very limited. Yet the way each of them could stand to improve would significantly benefit the other. Thompson should look to be a better playmaker (since his three-point shooting isn’t ideal), and Duren needs to keep finding ways to get involved on offense.
If Thompson can take a significant leap as a playmaker next season, it would not only help his own offensive game, but it would give Duren another guy to work with on that side of the ball. A win-win for both of the players and the Pistons as a whole.
Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren could help each other
The way the Pistons are set up – and have been set up for the past few years – Cade Cunningham has been the focal point of the team. And that’s a good thing. But it’s clearly not enough.
Cunningham is one of the best players in the world. One of the best offensive organizers in the league. But as the Pistons learned in the playoffs last year, they need more on offense than just Cunningham.
Tobias Harris, who helped out in the postseason, is gone. He joined the San Antonio Spurs. Even Caris LeVert is gone. That leaves Detroit with guys like Daniss Jenkins, Isaiah Joe (who the Pistons just traded for in a deal with the Oklahoma City Thunder), and rookie Ebuka Okorie.
But in reality, the Pistons need their top stars to take big enough leaps on the offensive end, because those are the players JB Bickerstaff is going to want on the floor most often.
Thompson couldn’t stay on the floor as consistently as Bickerstaff probably wanted him to because of his offense, and Paul Reed even had to replace Duren at times.
This situation can help everyone involved. Thompson should focus on being a playmaker for the Pistons. That would take some of the creative pressure off Cunningham.
Meanwhile, if Duren has another guy who can set him up consistently – and teams don’t cut down Cunningham as often – it would definitely help him on that side of the floor.
Thompson and Duren could feed off each other.
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