Pistons have one clear side mission before the playoffs

The Detroit Pistons hope to head into the playoffs on a high note with everyone playing well, and that will include finding an X-Factor or two on their bench who can knock down a 3-point shot.

Detroit’s starting five has been consistent for most of the season, but the backups have been all over the place, carrying the Pistons one week and looking like they don’t belong in the next. 

The Pistons eviscerated shorthanded Philly last night with a group effort that reflected one of the side missions they should have for the rest of the season, which is to get Kevin Huerter (or someone else) going on the bench. 

The Detroit Pistons will need help from an unexpected source 

Every team that makes a deep playoff run needs someone unexpected to step up and make a big play or have a huge game, and the Detroit Pistons are no exception. 

We know teams are going to try and contain Cade Cunningham, but that job will be much more difficult if someone else is hitting shots.

Last night, Kevin Huerter knocked down his first two 3-point shots from the corner, something the Pistons do painfully little of as a team. The Pistons are 26th in the NBA in corner 3-point percentage and we see them missing open ones game after game. 

Teams tend to leave that spot open for the Pistons to protect the paint, and you can’t blame them, as most of the time it’s Ron Holland (21%) or Tobias Harris (36%) shooting them. 

The Pistons need to unlock the corner 3-pointer

One of the Pistons’ goals over the next few weeks should be to get Huerter as many of those shots as they can to see if they can jumpstart his 3-point shooting, as it would be a game changer for Detroit’s offense in the playoffs. 

Javonte Green could also be a guy who plays X-Factor with his 3-point shooting. He knocked down 4-of-6 from long range last night, all but one of them from the corner. Green is now shooting an outstanding 49.4 percent on corner threes for the season, so he’s another shooter the Pistons could feature more in the coming weeks. 

The corner 3-pointer is one of the most efficient shots, and the Pistons aren’t taking or making enough of them even though the shot is often given to them. 

If they can force opponents to actually defend them out there, it will open things up in the middle even more for Cade Cunningham and company to do what they do best, which is dominate the paint. 

The Pistons have upcoming games against the Grizzlies, Raptors and two against the Wizards, so now would be a great time to experiment by getting Huerter and Green more corner 3-pointers to see if they can unlock a new wrinkle for the playoffs.