The Pistons largely lost Game 5 because of their struggles on offense, where they missed sharpshooter Duncan Robinson tremendously. But Robinson’s absence also surprisingly hurt Detroit on the defensive end because it allowed the Cavaliers to get into a solid rhythm rather than excessively hunting Robinson in isolation.
The Pistons defense was actually worse without Robinson
Obviously, Robinson could have had a huge impact on the game by capitalizing on advantages created by Cade Cunningham. But his absence also had a big impact on how the Cavaliers attacked. Cleveland has often tried to go after him in isolation with James Harden or Donovan Mitchell, leading to clunky offensive possessions without much ball movement.
But without such an obvious weak link on the floor for the Pistons, the Cavs actually found a better flow. They favored a pick-and-roll with Harden and Evan Mobley that produced good results and distributed scoring across their roster - 5 players with at least 16 points. The Cavaliers finished with a series-high 25 assists in Game 5.
It didn’t help that Robinson’s replacement in the starting lineup, Daniss Jenkins, didn’t provide excellent defense himself. Despite Jenkins’ athletic advantages over Robinson, his 6’4” frame limits him in certain defensive positions. The Pistons also got poor rim protection throughout the game, as All-Star center Jalen Duren once again struggled on both ends.
Cleveland’s success without Robinson should inspire the Pistons
The Cavaliers found success even without picking on Duncan Robinson because they stuck to their fundamental offensive principles. The Pistons will need to do the same on their end to score points without overworking Cade Cunningham. Throughout the series, Cade has been the only reliable scorer for Detroit because other players haven’t done their share.
However, the Pistons have also frequently relied on Cade to create any offense without much movement from his teammates. If they can instead be more active off the ball and position his teammates smartly, Cade might have an easier time setting up others. Cade is at his best when he has the option to either score or playmake, but one of those choices has largely dried up in the playoffs.
Since the Pistons have less offensive talent than the Cavaliers, they will need to get more creative to unlock efficient offense. A simple pick-and-roll against Cleveland’s long defenders likely won’t do the trick over an entire game. But having Cade isolate heavily is bound to burn him out and disrupt the team’s flow as well.
Both teams should have valuable takeaways from the Pistons defense being worse without Duncan Robinson. It’s less a statement about Robinson’s defensive strengths and more a testament to the importance of good offensive flow and ball movement.
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