Since being acquired in a sign-and-trade, Duncan Robinson has been an important veteran piece for the Pistons. His shooting has been a key to unlocking the offense as his younger teammates develop their skillsets. At the same time, Simone Fontecchhio is having a resurgence in Miami as the other side of the trade.
Robinson and Fontecchio are having newfound success
Both players are having bounceback seasons after reaching breaking points with their previous teams last season. The Heat shipped out Robinson with concerns about his defense and role in a changing offense. Now, Robinson has fit in beautifully for the Pistons and provided veteran leadership for a young team.
Robinson is now averaging 12.5 points per game while shooting 42% from three on over 7 attempts per game. He has started every game for the Pistons this season, which has provided important stability considering the team's injuries across the roster. Unlike previous seasons, the Pistons have had strong contributions from role players this season and Robinson is leading that charge.
Not only is Robinson making threes at a high rate, he is also helping the offense flow with his constant movement. He's a master of using his offball gravity to create open looks for teammates. It's the type of elite shooting that perfectly complements the Pistons' strong pick-and-roll game with Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren.
Simone Fontecchio could not provide the same level of shooting off the catch and was traded away following a season of struggles. But the Heat are running an isolation-heavy offense that allows different players to drive and score off the dribble. It's been a much better fit for Fontecchio than the Pistons' offense.
This season, Fontecchio is averaging 10 points per game while shooting 39% from three on 5.6 attempts per game. Compared to last season, when he averaged just 6 points per game while shooting 33% from three, he looks much more comfortable. With the added freedom of Miami's system, Fontecchio has been able to find his rhythm again to score efficiently.
Both the Pistons and the Heat have started the season surprisingly strong. Of course the Pistons are on top of the Eastern Conference at 15-3 but the Heat are not too far behind at 13-6. Despite missing their only All-Star from last season in Tyler Herro to start the year, the Heat have had a strong offense using their innovative approach. It's gotten the best out of many players, including Fontecchio.
On the other hand, the Pistons couldn't be happier about their offseason pickups. They're on track for a franchise-best season and Robinson is perfect in his role. Even his defensive concerns in Miami have been covered up by the Pistons, making him the ideal Detroit sharpshooter.