Ausar Thompson had his fingerprints all over the Pistons’ huge third quarter run that gained control of Game 2. His tremendous defensive impact and the resulting offensive boost may finally be enough to get him consistent minutes in the playoffs. The Pistons have limited his minutes, sometimes in key stretches, in last year’s playoffs and even Game 1 of this series but Game 2 may finally turn the tide.
Ausar Thompson needs to get consistent playing time
Despite Game 2 being a blowout after the Pistons’ 30-3 run in the third quarter, Thompson still ended up playing more minutes than he did in Game 1. The results and his impact were obvious; the Magic scored just 67 points per 100 possessions in Ausar’s minutes during Game 2. What’s more, his defensive intensity also forced many turnovers which led to easier baskets for the Pistons on the other end.
Those fastbreak opportunities made everyone on the team look better. Even though Ausar himself doesn’t have a huge offensive arsenal, he’s able to help the Pistons score points by turning defense into offense. And his defense can’t be overstated.
Unlike Game 1, we saw Ausar get more free reign to wreak havoc defensively in Game 2. He not only shut down his own man but also covered up for the Pistons’ weaker defenders. No matter where the Magic attacked, it seemed like Ausar was there to blow up the play.
In the past, Ausar has been benched for his defensive gambles or offensive woes - sometimes in the most important stretches of the game. But both of those concerns are often cancelled out by his general brilliance over the long term when he stays on the floor for extended stretches.
 Yes there might be some plays where he pursues a steal too aggressively or a defender mucks up the Pistons offense by sagging off him. But there will be plenty more plays where his defensive instincts lead to superhuman plays and he figures out how to make an impact offensively too.
The Pistons found the best ways to use Ausar Thompson
Thompson was at his best in Game 2 on both ends of the court. Offensively, he made smart cuts to remain a scoring threat and play off his teammates. Thompson finished with 11 points, a welcome contribution in a defensive game where some of his teammates struggled to score like normal.
Clearly there are effective ways to use Ausar Thompson on offense too. Combined with his consistent defensive impact and ability to force turnovers, Thompson is proving his playoff value rapidly. Hopefully the Pistons will continue to give him even more opportunities going forward rather than limiting his minutes and hurting the team's chances at winning.
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