The Pistons have found great success all season by bucking modern NBA trends and relying on their interior presence over heavy 3-point shooting. On Monday night, they defied current standards yet again by choosing to defend straight-up while up 3 points in the game's closing seconds, rather than fouling. Most other coaches would have their team intentionally foul to give the opponent 2 free throws in that situation, but JB Bickerstaff trusted the Pistons to get a stop and it paid off.
The Pistons don't play the same gimmicks as other teams
It was a bold decision from Bickerstaff that looked risky when Lakers superstar Luka Doncic got Pistons center Jalen Duren on a switch. Doncic has been able to abuse slow-footed big men to get the shot he wants in other matchups but Duren was able to force him into a contested 3 and miss as time wound down. His defensive possession also showed how much he's grown on that end of the ball this season.
More broadly speaking, Detroit's choice of an honest defense totally changed how the Lakers approached the possession. Rather than being able to fall into a free-throw shooting contest in the closing minutes, the Lakers actually had to hit a tough shot over one of the league's best defenses. It was a very smart call considering that the Lakers just sent a game to overtime while down 3 with a brilliant missed free throw on March 14th.
The Pistons themselves have taken advantage of this strategy this season too. On February 27th, the Pistons were down 3 against the Cavaliers with time winding down and Daniss Jenkins perfectly timed a halfcourt heave as he was getting intentionally fouled. It resulted in 3 free throws for Jenkins that sent the game to overtime, where the Pistons pulled out a win.
Detroit has made a smart adjustment for their team
The Pistons' win over the Lakers was a surprising one and allows them to remain afloat without Cade Cunningham for an extended period. By being diligent in their use of intentional fouls, the Pistons proved that they understand what makes them different from other teams. Their defense is a strong point that opposing teams must overcome, so they chose not to give up any free points. And the Pistons also aren't the best shooting team; they rank 26th in free-throw percentage this season. So entering a free-throw contest in crunch time is probably not an ideal strategy for this group.
A shift in the Pistons' strategy isn't guaranteed to change the entire NBA's perspective on fouling up 3. But hopefully it opens up other coaches to the idea that intentional fouls aren't always the smartest move. That could definitely make for a better fan experience in clutch games.