JB Bickerstaff's problem is one the Warriors already solved

Ausar Thompson was a game changer in the first-round for the Detroit Pistons, playing some of the best perimeter defense I’ve ever seen in three closeout games. 

So it might be easier to ask who he isn’t going to defend in the Cleveland series rather than who he is, as Thompson played relentless on the ball defense, but also helped out on just about everyone, racking up more than 30 combined steals and blocks against the Magic. 

But how the Pistons matchup will matter, and they will also have to find more ways to use him on the other end.

Who is Ausar Thompson going to defend? 

It will be interesting to see who Thompson defends to start the series, though like I said, I’m sure he’ll be all over the place. 

He should be able to bother Donovan Mitchell with his size and quickness, but that would leave Cade Cunningham on Harden, which creates its own problem. Cunningham can more than hold his own against Harden defensively, but the latter is very good at drawing fouls, and the Pistons can’t afford to have Cunningham on the bench in foul trouble. 

This will be something for JB Bickerstaff to navigate, as he has to maximize his best two perimeter defenders while keeping them out of foul trouble. 

Using the space around Ausar Thompson: Look to Draymond Green 

The Pistons did a poor job of exploiting all of the space around Ausar Thompson in the Magic series, and they have to do better against Cleveland. This is something the peak Warriors were able to overcome when teams did the same to Draymond Green. 

The Magic really stopped defending Ausar at all, backed off him and just let him run into traffic in the lane, daring him to take outside shots. JB Bickerstaff has to figure out how to make Thompson part of the play, whether it’s using him as a roll man in the pick-and-roll or as a cutter or just as a way to create space that other players can run into. 

Thompson isn’t going to suddenly learn how to shoot, but he’s a good passer and can attack the rim in similar ways that Draymond did with the Warriors. Draymond was very good at flashing to the ball when teams trapped Stephen Curry, as well as attacking out of the short roll with passes to cutters. The middle of the floor is there for Thompson, but he has to attack it and make something happen.

I’d also love to see Thompson in more dribble handoff action, another thing Draymond is very good at. The Pistons can’t just run away from Thompson, they need to make him a weapon. Ausar needs to make teams pay when they sag or try to go over those screens by slipping to the rim and forcing his defender to follow or give up an open shot to a teammate.

Of course, Draymond had two generational shooters around him which helped, but Thompson has Cade Cunningham and Duncan Robinson, who also create gravity Thompson can help amplify.

Thompson can’t be a complete non-factor in the half court, so JB Bickerstaff will need to get creative and can maybe take a look at some old Warriors’ film for inspiration. 

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