Pistons' new shooters will add to an old strength

The Detroit Pistons have relied heavily on fast-break points over the last two seasons, a strength that may be even more effective after the changes they’ve made this offseason. 

The Pistons finished 6th in the NBA in fast-break points per game last season after finishing 2nd the year before, so this is a team that likes to get out and run. 

Part of this is because they play tenacious defense that leads to plenty of steals and turnovers that they try to turn into instant points. 

Another part is that the Pistons have not been a good shooting team (especially from long range) in the last two seasons, so needed to find more creative ways to score in transition and avoid playing in the half-court offense, where they were less effective. 

Detroit tried to address the issue this offseason by adding more shooters who could help create space in the half-court, but these players will also bolster a transition game that was already very good. 

The Pistons will get even more looks in transition 

After bringing in Isaiah Joe, John Collins, Taurean Prince and Gary Harris, the Pistons now have more shooting than they have the past two seasons by a wide margin. 

Detroit has never had more than one elite 3-point shooter on the team (at least not recently) and now they have two in Robinson and Joe, who are among the best movement shooters in the league and also very good in transition. 

These are the types of shooters who can just run to a spot in the fast break and wait for the ball to come. 

If defenses want to follow them out to the 3-point line, great, as it just means there will be more space in the lane for the attacking dribbler to finish. 

If not, then the Pistons now have more options to kick out than they had last season, when most of the fast breaks were just one guy putting his head down and going. 

Players like Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland II, who can be devastating finishers on fast breaks, can now look to kick out for transition 3-pointers instead of only finishing at the rim in traffic. 

Some of the best 3-point looks come in transition, when defenses are scrambling and it’s far easier for shooters to find space. 

Detroit will hopefully be better in the half-court offense with improved spacing, but that doesn’t mean they are going to stop running, in fact, we may see even more transition points next season. 

Defenses will have to choose their poison when the Pistons are on the break, and whichever way they choose, Detroit will have an advantage. 

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