Ausar Thompson has proven his value as a generational defender so far in the playoffs, but his biggest defensive growth comes from what he isn't doing. Compared to last year, Thompson has drastically reduced his fouls in the playoffs, which helps him play more minutes and avoids giving opponents as many easy points. The Pistons will need his intense physical defense to win the next round as well, but staying out of foul trouble will also be key.
Ausar Thompson has figured out how to avoid foul trouble
Last year, Thompson averaged 4.2 fouls per game over Detroit's 6-game series with the Knicks. He also only played 22.5 minutes per game, in part due to this foul trouble. With all of those fouls, Thompson put head coach JB Bickerstaff in a tough position with regards to the team's minutes distribution.
Learning to defend without fouling has been an underrated development for Ausar, and made Bickerstaff's job easier this year. Bickerstaff is now set up in the perfect position to disrupt the Cavaliers offense by weaponizing Thompson's versatile defensive skillset. In the first round this year, Thompson averaged just 1.9 fouls per game while playing 32.7 minutes per game.
The decreased fouling didn't curb Thompson's defensive aggression either. He averaged 2.3 steals AND 2.3 blocks per game in the first round, joining a very select group of defenders to hit those marks. Even against players who are known for drawing fouls like Paolo Banchero, Thompson managed to avoid excessively fouling.
Thompson's continued excellence on defense throughout the first-round series helped his teammates get into a better flow even after they fell into an early deficit. The Detroit offense was inconsistent, but the defense held steady for all 7 games. And that defense also led to easier offense at times throughout transition baskets.
Ausar will have a bigger test for his fouling coming up
However, Thompson will have a much more challenging matchup in Round 2. He will likely be matched up against either Donovan Mitchell or James Harden on the Cavaliers, and both are savvy veterans when it comes to drawing reckless fouls. They may both employ the same tactics that Jalen Brunson used last year to get Ausar in foul trouble so often.
Since Thompson will have a size advantage against Mitchell and Harden, he needs to be even more careful with his defense. Referees are often subconsciously willing to give a favorable whistle to smaller players, so defending Cleveland's guards could be a whole different story from defending Paolo Banchero. If Thompson can pass this upcoming test without getting into foul trouble, his evolution as a defender may be near complete.
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