Marcus Sasser has the most important skill a role player can have

If there is one thing we know about Marcus Sasser, it’s that he stays ready, which is one of the most important skills a role player can have. 

After appearing in just 38 games all season, Sasser stepped up in a do-or-die game six and delivered nine huge points for a team-high +27 in the win. 

Sasser hit a crucial buzzer beater to extend the lead, knocked down a clutch 3-point shot and gave the Pistons another threat that Cleveland wasn't prepared for.

I said this last night, but I’ll never stop being impressed with Sassser’s ability to stay ready and pop into a game completely in rhythm even though he’s not seen the floor in weeks. 

He did this time and time again this season, whether it was just for a few minutes when someone was in foul trouble, or when he was forced into the starting five due to injuries and delivered. 

He’s managed to be one of the Pistons’ most consistent players and 3-point shooters even though he never knows when or if he’ll play. That ability to stay ready is crucial for role players like Sasser, who live on the fringes waiting for their chance. 

It wasn’t just his shooting last night, as putting Sasser in the game took a lot of pressure off Cade Cunningham. 

JB Bickerstaff has a counter to the Cade Cunningham double teams 

I thought coach Bickerstaff did a masterful job with his bench last night and deserves a lot of credit, as some of those decisions weren’t easy. 

He had to bench Isaiah Stewart in favor of Paul Reed, who along with Sasser, helped deliver the win. 

But one of the biggest tweaks was putting Sasser in with both Cade and Daniss Jenkins to get an extra ball handler on the floor and take some of the pressure off Cunningham, and this change may have been the difference. 

We were already seeing the effects of the constant traps on Cunningham in the first half, when he coughed up turnovers on back-to-back plays, let Cleveland back into the game and looked fatigued in the process. 

Coach Bickerstaff had to get the ball out of his hands, and he did, with Jenkins, Sasser and LeVert bringing the ball up the floor most of the night. Having another reliable outlet and ball handler out there made a big difference and allowed the Pistons to more effectively spread the floor on offense. 

Sasser was also able to bail the Pistons out on two plays that looked dead when he was able to get his own shot, which is something they’ve lacked. I also thought Sass did a great job on Donovan Mitchell, who was having a hard time getting by him. 

Sasser never knows when he’s going to play but stays ready like an idling Ferrari waiting for his coach to call his number. It’s an underrated skill for a role player, and Sasser deserves credit for never complaining while he waits for his chance. 

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow