The Detroit Pistons are off to a winless start, and there have been plenty of narratives, both positive and negative, that are dominating the discussion.
Are we seeing Jaden Ivey make the leap offensively? And does it matter if he doesn't play better defense?
What is going on in the 4th quarter?
Is Isaiah Stewart ever going to make a 3-point shot? Can Jalen Duren be the defensive anchor? Are either of them good enough to be an NBA starter?
Is Tobias Harris washed or just off to a slow start after recently having COVID?
Is this team bad or just facing a tough schedule?
The Pistons hope to get their first win tonight against a shorthanded Philly team, and if they don’t, all of these questions are going to get louder until they start notching some wins.
Lost in this has been the play of Tim Hardaway Jr., who shook off a terrible preseason and has quietly been much better than expected.
Tim Hardaway Jr. Is not Joe Harris 2.0
There were a lot of jokes flying around that the Pistons had traded for another Joe Harris after THJ had a rough preseason where he missed nearly every shot.
But that certainly hasn’t been the case so far, as Hardaway Jr. has been solid, hitting 47.8 percent of his 3-point shots and scoring 13 points per game as a starter.
Malik Beasley has made more than 40 percent of his long-range shots as well, so it’s really been only Tobias Harris who hasn’t made an instant impact for the Pistons as a veteran floor spacer.
JB Bickerstaff even praised THJ’s defense after the Miami game when the Pistons put together a good 3rd quarter only to eventually blow it:
J.B. Bickerstaff following tonight's game pic.twitter.com/YBoHBKpR17
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) October 29, 2024
Hardaway Jr. is on an expiring contract, and with several teams desperate for 3-point shooters, the Pistons might be able to flip him for assets at the deadline. Let’s hope they are in contention by then, but if they’re not, and THJ continues to play well, it’s likely he’ll be moved before the season is over.
He’s helping the young guards now and could reap more benefits in the future, so THJ has been a net positive so far.
Given the low expectations we had for this transaction, which was really just a salary dump for the Mavericks, Hardaway Jr. has been a pleasant surprise in the early season for the Detroit Pistons.