Last season, the Pistons had one of the top defenses in the league (especially after Ausar Thompson got healthy) with a middling offense, a formula good enough to reach the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. Going into next season, they are searching for ways to spruce up the offense while retaining their defensive identity. One tactic they can employ is a favorite of Nikola Jokic, the long outlet pass.
Jokic frequently kickstarts the Nuggets offense with long outlet passes, whether they are off a defensive rebound or even an opponent made shot. His passing skill at his size allows him to accurately throw dimes nearly the full length of the court. And the tremendous athletes on his team have benefited greatly, as evidenced by many an Aaron Gordon dunk.
Cade Cunningham: One of the League’s Best Passers
Cade Cunningham is capable of making similar passes. He is undeniably the best passer on the Pistons and one of the best in the entire league, as evidenced by top-4 finish in assists last season. He’s shown off his outlet passing on occasion in the past, and it is an excellent tool when playing alongside top-tier athletes and speed demons like Ausar Thompson and Jaden Ivey.
Like Jokic, Cade has excellent size for a lead playmaker and can see over the top of recovering defenses early in the clock. Unlike many other point guards, he can also directly grab many defensive rebounds of his own. This makes the overall form from rebound to outlet pass completion much quicker since he won’t have to wait for his center to hand him the ball.
Some other guards have also had success with long outlet passes recently. Tyrese Haliburton, arguably the league’s best passer, regularly delivered outlet passes last season, including in the playoffs. Not only did it help the Pacers get many easy looks, it also kept the opposing defense constantly on edge regardless of the situation.
A successful outlet pass is also a great booster to team morale. The Pistons already did a great job turning defense into offense, which only serves to motivate guys even more on the defensive end. But an immediate outlet pass is the type of instant gratification that can elevate team chemistry and defense to yet another level.
Under the right scheme, the Pistons could even use Cade in a role where he’s positioned to grab more rebounds and get the outlets out quicker. The result could be a boost in Cade’s individual numbers as well as more team success on both ends.
Cade Cunningham is certainly a player of many talents, and it’s about time the Pistons unlocked one of his hidden ones in outlet passing.