Head coach JB Bickerstaff has prioritized shooting and ball handling in his lineups so far, and once they finally get healthy, it’s fair to ask where that leaves Ron Holland.
Holland is under a microscope of sorts this season, as he only has one more year left on his deal, and the Pistons could potentially use him in a deadline trade. It’s also possible that Detroit just keeps developing him through next season to see what happens, so it’s not given that Holland is going anywhere. As a fan, I am hoping for the latter, as I love Holland's energy and am cheering for him to succeed.
But it hasn’t been a great start for him, and he could see his playing time decrease even more once the Pistons get back to full strength.
Ron Holland’s spot in the Detroit Pistons’ rotation
Holland is only playing 15 minutes a game so far this season, which is down four minutes from last year.
Kevin Huerter is playing 23 a game and even journeyman Javonte Green has played more minutes per game so far than Holland.
JB Bickerstaff has clearly made an effort to keep shooters and ball handlers on the floor at all times, and it has resulted in fewer turnovers and more 3-point attempts.
The Pistons are currently 8th in the NBA in turnovers per game after finishing 22nd in that category last season. They are also shooting and making more 3-point shots while getting Cade Cunningham off the ball more, all of which were priorities entering the season.
Holland is not a ball handler and is averaging a turnover per game even though he doesn’t have it in his hands often. His 3-point shooting has shown signs of improvement, but after missing all three against the Wizards, he’s sitting at just 30 percent on the season.
There are signs of hope with the 3-pointers, as Holland has hit over 41 percent of them over his last five games. This has to continue, or it’s hard to see how Holland fits into the Pistons’ new offensive agenda.
It gets even stickier once Jalen Duren and Isaiah Joe get back from injuries, as Joe adds another bench player who is going to get minutes, and they may come at the expense of Holland if coach Bickerstaff wants to prioritize shooting and offensive versatility.
Holland just has to keep grinding, as he is their best bench defender, so even having a passable 3-point shot should be enough to keep him on the floor.
But his minutes have gone down, and it’s not completely clear how he fits into the Pistons’ new offensive identity.
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