A Pistons player landed in JB Bickerstaff's doghouse and can't escape

JB Bickerstaff has shortened his rotation for the playoffs, and there has been one noticeable absence in second year man Ron Holland II, who seems to be in JB’s doghouse with no way out. 

After catching another DNP-CD last night, Holland hasn’t played since game two, when he was unceremoniously yanked from the game, and he hasn’t returned since. Bickerstaff had some heated words for Holland on the sidelines, so I am not sure what happened, but Holland is officially out of the playoff rotation for now. 

I knew this was a possibility, as coach Bickerstaff has to try to inject more shooting and ball handling into his bench lineups and Holland hasn’t provided much of either. 

But it is surprising that the Hustle Man isn’t seeing the floor at all and you have to wonder what this means for his career as a Piston moving forward. 

Ron Holland can’t get past Caris LeVert 

With Javonte Green providing solid minutes in the playoffs and Daniss Jenkins the only surehanded backup point guard, we knew that the 9-man rotation would likely come down to LeVert or Holland. 

LeVert hasn’t done much, but it’s clear coach Bickerstaff trusts him more than Holland at this point. The Pistons signed LeVert for this exact reason, and even though he had twice as many fouls as points last night, Holland can’t get off the bench. 

I wrote about JB Bickerstaff’s loyalty potentially being a problem, but it’s hard to blame him the way the Pistons are shooting. 

Ron Holland and Ausar Thompson can’t share the floor 

In an ideal world, Ron Holland II becomes a capable 3-point shooter, and the Pistons have the best defensive wing duo in the league. 

But we don’t live in that world yet, so it’s hard to play these two guys at the same time, as you can’t play two players on the wing that the other team doesn’t have to defend. 

With Thompson playing increased minutes in the playoffs, there are fewer minutes with him on the bench, which means less potential time for Holland. As good as the Magic have been defensively, coach Bickerstaff clearly thinks he needs LeVert’s theoretical ball handling and scoring. 

It’s understandable, but Holland’s absence is noticeable. 

Pistons are missing energy and hustle points 

Holland may not be able to shoot, and he sometimes makes boneheaded decisions in transition trying to take on multiple players, but the guy provides energy, steals and intangibles that the Pistons are missing. 

With LeVert struggling again last night and the Pistons hitting a bit of a lull in the second half, I thought we might see a few minutes of Holland just to inject some life into the bench, but it didn’t look like that idea even crossed JB Bickerstaff’s mind. 

JB has made his decision and he’ll be the one to live with it, but you do have to wonder if Holland’s playoff no-show will lead to the Pistons potentially shopping him this summer or if they still have faith in him as part of the core. 

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow