The Biggest Takeaways from the Preseason for the Detroit Pistons
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The preseason is over for the Detroit Pistons. Finishing with a 2-2 record in four games, we saw the return of Cade Cuningham, the debut of Ausar Thompson, a new role for Jaden Ivey, and plenty more. Here are four key takeaways from the preseason for the Detroit Pistons.
Cade Cunningham’s Mortality
It would be remiss not to lead off with the most important storyline coming out of preseason - Cade Cunningham’s underwhelming performance. After a high-profile offseason for the third-year guard - including an offer to join Team USA for this summer’s FIBA World Cup - Cunningham has struggled to assert himself as the lead guy for a team desperately needing him to do so.
In three preseason appearances, Cunningham averaged just 11 points on 37.1% shooting. Outside of the numbers, which already paint an ugly picture, Cunningham didn’t appear to have a great deal of burst or athleticism behind him. His handle was loose at times and his passing was sloppy. He tallied seven turnovers in just 67 preseason minutes.
Although the sample size is small, the minutes were nonetheless important enough for Monty Williams to have Cunningham play the front and back end of a back-to-back on Thursday and Friday. The future of the Pistons lies on the shoulders of Cunningham, and he will need to be better once the regular season begins on October 25th in Miami.
Ausar Thompson is Ready
A feeling of massive disappointment resonated around Detroit when the Pistons fell to the fifth pick in the 2023 NBA Draft Lottery, as it meant Victor Wembenyama wouldn’t be coming to the Motor City. The consolation prize ended up being Ausar Thompson - who has looked all of the part of an NBA wing since Summer League in July and throughout the preseason.
Numbers certainly don’t mean everything - for the noise surrounding Cunningham’s 37% shooting in the preseason, Thompson shot 35% - but the rookie’s impact was felt on both sides of the court. He started all four games, averaging 11.8 points, 9.3 rebounds, and 2.8 assists, along with 1.0 blocks and 0.7 steals. The plays Thompson made on both sides of the court were far more memorable and more meaningful than the numbers he put up.
All signs point to Thompson being a member of Detroit’s starting lineup on opening night, even if it means Jaden Ivey is officially demoted to a bench role. Even though Thompson’s outside shooting is still a significant weakness, his athleticism, cutting, rebounding, and playmaking on both offense and defense have made him an integral part of Monty Williams’ game plan.
Isaiah Stewart is Not a 3-Point Shooter
The subject of Isaiah Stewart’s shooting is a topic of discussion that very much needs to cease. In 87 preseason minutes, Stewart shot 4-21 from the 3-point line, good for 19%. The percentage was bad, and so were the misses - some missed the rim, while others careened wide off the backboard. Even worse, most of Stewart’s 3-point attempts were wide-open. Defenses sagged in on ball-handlers such as Cunningham, Ivey, and Marcus Sasser, daring Stewart to heave from beyond the arc, an anticipated defensive strategy.
With so many non-shooters on the court together, specifically in a starting lineup that includes Stewart, Thompson, and Jalen Duren, the spacing is going to be non-existent. Stewart is going to have to remain on the perimeter for any chance at dribble penetration from the guards. But that also means he’ll have to be a threat to knock down outside shots, something he was not able to do in his first three years in the league and something he didn’t do in the preseason either. Stewart’s own attempts at attacking off the dribble, another aspect of his game some are hoping continues to develop and be put to use, were unsuccessful as well.
Stewart helps the team with his physicality and interior defense, but the role he's being asked to play on offense hasn't been effective. That being said, the Pistons committed long-term to Stewart in the offseason via a four-year, $64 million contract extension. Troy Weaver, Monty Williams, and Stewart need to find a way to integrate Stewart successfully into Detroit's game plan as it's clear he is a part of the organization's future plans.
Stanley Umude could Earn the 15th Roster Spot
Logging nearly 70 minutes across four preseason games, Stanley Umude may have shown enough to take on Detroit’s 15th and final roster spot. He averaged 9.3 points on 43.8% 3-point shooting. At 6’6, Umude could provide Detroit with a needed 3-and-D threat on the wing. With Isaiah Livers out until late November and Bojan Bogdanovic’s health in question, the Pistons are thin on the wing heading into the regular season.
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