The Pistons are under pressure to extend Ausar Thompson soon after his twin brother Amen received a massive deal from the Rockets. But the front office isn’t the only one up against the clock; both twins are also now competing to see who can develop a jump shot first.
For the past two seasons, Ausar has been working with Pistons assistant coach Fred Vinson, a renowned shooting specialist, to improve his shot. Houston has now given Amen a similar resource in Chip Engelland, who joined the Rockets staff this summer. Both brothers are racing against the clock to establish their jumpers and take an offensive leap.
Ausar and Amen have the same goal
At this point, everyone in the NBA knows how special both brothers are even without a jump shot. Amen has arguably shown more in his all-around game so far, but Ausar’s defensive dominance also turned many heads last season. Their ridiculous athleticism and great feel already gives them plenty of tools to make their impact felt.
However, a reliable jump shot for either twin could completely revolutionize their team’s offense. Both Thompsons play in crowded spacing that requires more creative sets from their coaches. As perimeter non-shooters, they’re not currently helping the cause.
It doesn’t help that both guys also play with relative non-shooting centers that have a big offensive role. Neither Jalen Duren nor Alperen Sengun are exactly feared for their 3-point prowess. That leaves more responsibility on Ausar and Amen to get their outside shots to a respectable level, at least enough to keep defenses honest.
A Thompson jumper can shake up the NBA
If either twin gets to league-average shooting for a small forward, their teams could immediately become proper title contenders. The Pistons obviously have a great foundation with their elite defense and All-NBA guard Cade Cunningham, but need a little more spacing to remain effective in the playoffs.
Ausar knocking down his fair share of corner threes could be the simple solution for all the Pistons’ playoff woes. If defenses care enough to guard him at the 3-point line, the pick and roll with Cade and Duren also gets a lot more room to operate. And Ausar himself can also leverage the threat of a jumper to attack the rim more efficiently.
In Houston, Amen’s theoretical jumper could elevate him to an All-NBA level too. He’s shown promise as a defender, slasher and even playmaker but the lack of shooting has held him back. A consistent jumpshot should make every aspect of offense easier for both him and his teammates.
Like the Pistons, the Rockets also have a strong defense and their own All-NBA contributor - Kevin Durant in Houston’s case. With an Amen shooting leap and good health, they might already have enough to contend with the Spurs and Thunder in the West.
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