The Detroit Pistons didn’t take or make many 3-point shots last season but have taken a different approach in this one.
The Pistons have made 138 shots from 3-point range through their first 10 games, which is the most in team history on pace to crush the record for the season. Duncan Robinson is leading the way, averaging over four makes from long range per game, and he too is on pace to beat the team record held by Malik Beasley.
It’s a dramatic switch from last season when the Pistons were near the bottom of the league in both attempts and makes. They are not only getting more of them up this season (up to 16h in the league from 28th) but are hitting them at a higher clip. The Pistons are currently top 8 in 3-point percentage, which is a nice balance to their league-leading defense.
Head coach JB Bickerstaff has to be given a lot of credit for making adjustments this season, especially when he’s been shorthanded for almost all of it.
JB Bickerstaff is answering his biggest critics
The biggest criticisms against JB Bickerstaff are that he is not a creative offensive mind, doesn’t make great in-game adjustments and is far better at coaching defense than offense.
This accounts for why he’s had more success in the regular season than in the playoffs, but Bickertsaff is trying to change the narrative.
After Trajan Langdon went out and got him some shooters, Bickerstaff has adjusted the offense, gotten more movement of the ball and players and has clearly made an effort to attempt more 3-point shots.
The Pistons don’t want to completely run away from their strengths, especially once Jalen Duren returns, but they have a much more versatile offense this season that relies less on points in the paint.
Credit to Bickerstaff for modernizing his offense once his front office finally gave him the tools to do so, as the Pistons only had one good shooter on the team last year.
Coach Bickerstaff has run more creative actions for guys like Duncan Robinson and Kevin Huerter and used their gravity to create more space and opportunities.
The Pistons’ offense has struggled at times, but a lot of this that they are missing Duren and the easy buckets he provides, a weapon that will be even more effective with the increased shooting around him.
Coach Bickerstaff has also been quick to make adjustments, as he did last night, going small by putting Daniss Jenkins in the starting five instead of Paul Reed. It was a mixed result with John Collins at center, but the Pistons were able to play faster offensively and run the Wizards off the floor.
JB Bickerstaff is defying his reputation as a defensive wizard who can’t create or adjust on offense, and I can’t wait to see what it looks like when the Pistons finally get back to full strength.
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