In many ways, the Detroit Pistons don’t look like a modern NBA team, at least not one that should have a winning record, but they are sitting atop the Eastern Conference and doing it the old-fashioned way.
The Pistons don’t take or make a ton of 3-point shots and instead rely on paint domination on both ends to get it done. The Pistons are easily leading the NBA in points in the paint differential, as they #1 at scoring and stopping points in the paint.
They more resemble a team from the 90s or 2000s, as their offense revolves around a ball-dominant point guard and rolling big man and most of their wings are slashers and not much threat to shoot from the outside.
With Isaiah Stewart and Jalen Duren (who is playing like an All-Star) in the starting five, the Pistons are closer to the Goin’ to Work offense than they are some of the high-octane offenses we see from modern NBA teams.
They are proving that not everything has to revolve around 3-point shooting and one of the reasons it has worked is the understated brilliance of Ausar Thompson, who is the type of outlier you need to make an unconventional approach work.
Ausar Thompson does a little of everything for the Detroit Pistons
There’s been plenty of talk about Cade Cunningham’s MVP-level campaign so far and the massive leap we’ve seen from Jalen Duren, but Ausar Thompson is quietly one of the cogs that makes the Pistons function well on both ends.
Ausar Thompson can’t shoot the 3-ball, which is supposed to be a death sentence in the modern NBA, but he finds ways to score and has increased his average to 14 a game to go along with 6.8 rebounds and 3.3 assists, all career highs.
Thompson has been a secondary creator at times, especially when Cade Cunningham has been doubled, and he’s been a big part of why Cunningham has cut his turnovers in the last five games. Thompson has been reading the play well and flashing aggressively to the ball anytime he sees the double team coming towards Cade, which has allowed Cunningham to get rid of it.
When Thompson does get the ball in these situations, he’s attacking the rim and looking to dunk, and if that’s not there, he’s done a good job of dishing off to cutters or dumping it to the rolling Duren.
He creates space with his ability to get to the rim, which has offset the fact that he rarely even looks to shoot from long range. Thompson is getting three more field goal attempts per game than he had last season, essentially playing a hybrid two-guard for Detroit with Jaden Ivey out.
Thompson is the lynchpin of the Pistons’ defense, as he can guard just about anyone and is a big part of their transition offense. The Pistons are 4th in the league in fast break points, and Thompson is at the heart of it, averaging nearly two steals a game and looking to push when he gets them.
I love that the Pistons are playing to the strengths of the guys they have instead of trying to pigeonhole them into launching a bunch of 3-point shots. The Thunder won a title using this model and the Pistons are showing that 3-point shooting isn’t everything in the NBA.