Detroit Pistons fans have talked a lot about Isaiah Stewart’s disappearing 3-point shooting, and it’s something we may see again next season.
Stewart started launching and making more 3-point shots in the disastrous season of Monty Williams’ misguided two-bigs experiment with Beef Stew at the four, which was one of the only silver linings to those lineups.
Stewart averaged nearly four attempts per game and hit 38 percent of them, so it’s a shot we know he has in his arsenal.
But he completely went away from it last season, which he was asked about during media day. Stewart said it’s something he’d like to bring back and that they will work on getting him more of those shots in certain matchups.
The good news is that Stewart is far better equipped to handle that challenge next season than he ever was in the past.
Isaiah Stewart needs to keep adding to his game
I thought JB Bickerstaff did a brilliant job with Stewart last season, as he simplified his approach and had him focus on becoming a defensive stopper first.
Stewart did that and was one of the best rim protectors in the league last season. He was the Pistons’ physical enforcer, best shot blocker and held his own on perimeter switches.
All of that took a toll on his offensive game, as Stewart was exclusively playing backup center last season and wasn’t as involved much in the offense.
Now that he has established himself defensively, Stewart can start adding back to his stripped-down game, including shooting more 3-point shots.
The Pistons will need him to, as they don’t have much 3-point shooting and will need to make up all of the 3’s they lost this offseason as a team, as one guy isn’t going to do it. But if guys like Stewart, Holland and even Ausar Thompson can knock down more 3-point shots they can somewhat offset the loss of Beasley and THJ in the aggregate.
Stewart may also get a chance to play some power forward again next season, as the Pistons have no depth at the position and may have to go big at times to match up with teams like Milwaukee that feature multiple seven footers. seven-footers
Stewart simplified his offensive game last season, but for him to take the next step as a player, he needs to start taking and making more 3-point shots. When you see the payday Naz Reid just got, it’s obvious how much teams value bigs who can shoot.
Stewart needs to put himself back into that discussion.