JB Bickerstaff is experimenting with a bold lineup he could unleash in the playoffs

Head coach JB Bickerstaff has been using the last two games to tinker with lineups that he could end up using in the playoffs when the Pistons need more shooting on the floor. 

In the second quarter, coach Bickerstaff ran with the group of Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Kevin Huerter, Ron Holland II and Isaiah Stewart, a unit that hasn’t been used in the past. 

Huerter is playing while Caris LeVert is out and he’s a guy the Pistons need to get going, as his shooting could be a potential X-factor in the playoffs, especially if coach Bickerstaff is able to use him alongside Duncan Robinson. 

The Pistons are often running with two non-shooters (at least) on the floor, but rarely with two guys defenses actually have to respect. 

Huerter hasn’t shot the ball well this season, but he at least takes care of it, keeps it moving, defenses know has a history as a sharpshooter, and they don’t want to let him get going. 

When Ausar Thompson is back, he could be used in place of Holland, which would give the Pistons additional ballhandling and an even better defender to cover any holes. 

But this lineup comes with two big questions. 

Can the Pistons play Duncan Robinson and Kevin Huerter at the same time? 

The question of whether Robinson and Huerter are playable together came up as soon as the Pistons traded for Huerter, as the ability to play these guys at the same time would theoretically allow the Pistons to finally have two shooting threats on the floor next to Cade Cunningham. 

The question is whether they can hold up defensively, as Robinson is not a good individual defender (he can be hidden in a scheme) and fans assumed Huerter wasn’t either, but that is not the case. 

While Huerter isn’t an all-world defender by any means, he can hold his own on the perimeter and in the post, makes smart decisions and is far from a traffic cone, as he showed last night, picking up two steals and playing some solid, physical defense on larger players in the post. 

Defense from Huerter shouldn’t be a problem, especially with Ausar Thompson or Ron Holland along with Isaiah Stewart covering many mistakes. 

Can Kevin Huerter find his shot? 

Defensively, the two can hold up in short stretches, but it’s only worth the gamble if Huerter is providing something offensively. 

He hit consecutive corner 3’s last night, which is a good start, but he was still just 2-of-7 from long range. He needs to keep firing them as long as he is getting minutes, as he could help unlock the Pistons’ offense by allowing them to have two shooters on the floor. 

I doubt the Pistons will turn to this lineup often, but it’s worth exploring over the next few games against inferior opponents, as the Pistons need to find ways to inject more shooting, space and movement into their half-court offense without sacrificing too much on the other end.