The Pistons will get another shot at the Spurs tonight and they might find success with an unconventional strategy of throwing additional size on the court. The Spurs exposed the Pistons' offensive weaknesses in their last matchup by forcing Detroit to shoot from outside. Victor Wembanyama's length threw the Pistons off from their usual gameplan and disrupted the offense greatly.
But this time could be different. The Pistons have gotten better scoring aggression throughout their lineup recently, highlighted by solid performances from Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren. Continuing to attack the rim with these players and packing the paint with potential offensive rebounders may be a more successful tactic for the Pistons than relying on their limited shooting.
The Pistons offense needs to be different this time around
Since the Spurs last defeated the Pistons, the Cavaliers have also handed them another loss. Cleveland followed a similar defensive strategy by deploying strong wing stoppers on Cade Cunningham and protecting the paint with length. But the Pistons were able to stay in the game thanks to some better shotmaking and good paint scoring from other players.
It's also important to note that the Pistons will have Isaiah Stewart back for this game. He missed the last matchup with the Spurs due to a suspension, but is all good to go now. Stewart has thrived best as a backup center this season, but also fit well as a power forward in the starting lineup at times. Playing him alongside Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson would severely limit the Pistons' shooting, but may give them enough of a physical advantage to attack the rim against Wemby.
And the defense should be stellar if all three are sharing the court. Stewart is one of the top rim protectors in the NBA and his stats contesting shots at the rim are technically even better than Wembanyama's. But he's also able to switch out onto the perimeter for spurts or guard forwards full time if needed. Adding Stewart into the starting lineup can give the Pistons leeway to guard Wemby with physicality without giving up open looks from outside to his teammates.
Emphasizing an interior presence against the Spurs is not a strategy that would have any chance of working for most teams. But the Pistons are not most teams. Their physicality and domination of the paint on both ends has led them to the top seed in the East and a top-two record overall. If they lean into their biggest strengths, it might be enough to negate Wembanyama's natural advantages.
If the Pistons' recent games have proved anything, it's that they can't rely on outside shooting. Instead, they may as well stick to what works against San Antonio.