The Pistons suffered another loss to the Spurs despite their best efforts, but may have left the game with some valuable new data on their rotational pieces. Kevin Huerter finally got some playing time at 17 minutes and was solid on the court. Unsurprisingly, the increased minutes allowed Huerter to get comfortable and find his rhythm on both ends.
Huerter was able to put together a solid statline of 7 points, 5 rebounds and 2 assists. Most importantly, he showed his ability as a shooter including knocking down one triple and using his spot-up threat to set up some dimes. His overall impact was clearly positive, and the Pistons won his minutes by 15. Adding him to the rotation permanently can give the Pistons the extra shooter they've desperately been needing.
The Pistons need Kevin Huerter at his best in the playoffs
Although the Pistons weren't able to slow down Victor Wembanyama no matter what they threw at him, they still found success when Huerter was on the floor. His unselfish play sparked the team on both ends. Offensively, Huerter is willing to do all the little things needed to maximize a shooter's impact. He runs hard around screens to get open, shoots when open, and even sets screens himself.
When he did get the ball, Huerter looked surprisingly tight in his handle. With that, he attacked closeouts effectively to finish at the rim. Huerter also displayed a nice playmaking touch, both in the halfcourt and coming off an offensive rebound. He's improved his game in multiple facets besides just shooting, but it's gone under the radar so far on the Pistons because he hasn't played much.
Defensively, Huerter's effort stood out. He was quick to rotate, whether onto shooters or Victor Wembanyama as a roller. He also provided a physical presence that contributed to team defensive rebounding. Most importantly, Huerter held up defensively playing alongside fellow shooter Duncan Robinson. This gives the Pistons hope of lineups with a lot more spacing than they're used to.
Kevin Huerter can be an unexpected difference maker
Deploying both Robinson and Huerter can give the Pistons an offensive boost they need to clear their East rivals in the playoffs. Having to guard multiple shooting threats while Cade Cunningham attacks the paint will stretch defenses thin. Robinson and Huerter's off-ball movement makes them even harder to cover, especially with big bodies on the roster to set screens.
The Pistons finally got to see the version of Kevin Huerter they expected when trading for him. It took him this long to fully earn some extended trust from the coaching staff, but he made the most of it. Let's hope he continues to get more minutes and integrate himself into the rotation as Detroit prepares for the playoffs.