The Detroit Pistons Are Still In Severe Need Of Floor-Spacing

DETROIT, MICHIGAN – MARCH 01: Cade Cunningham #2 of the Detroit Pistons talks to Ausar Thompson #9 while playing the Cleveland Cavaliers at Little Caesars Arena on March 01, 2024 in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)

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Most NBA fans and pundits expect the Detroit Pistons to improve upon their surprisingly effective 2024-2025 season, in which they won 44 games and made it to the playoffs.

In many respects, the arguments for that back up those expectations.

Jaden Ivey, arguably the second-best offensive player on the team, was limited to 30 games last season. If his health persists, his presence should improve Detroit’s offense.

Then there are the general internal improvements that are fair to be expected, with Jalen Duren, Ausar Thompson, and Ron Holland all likely taking a step forward.

However, one major element remains in a state of flux, and that’s Detroit’s floor-spacing.

Duncan Robinson, and who else?

Despite acquiring the services of Duncan Robinson, one of the purest shooters in the league, the Pistons aren’t exactly oozing of three-point shooters, and will have to hope Cade Cunningham and his teammates take a collective step forward.

The All-Star made 35.6% of his six nightly attempts last year. That’s around league average efficiency on middling volume. It could be worse, but it’s not an outright strength of Cunningham, nor an on-court asset for the Pistons.

Thompson (22.4%), and Holland (23.8%) are both levels below league average, which raises questions as to how the two can ultimately play alongside each other unless one, or both, become someone defenses will have to pay attention to.

The aforementioned Ivey, who actually canned 40.9% of his three-balls last season, missed 52 games and thus we have no idea whether that can be duplicated.

Duren is so far a complete non-factor in the spacing department, and the curious decision to have Isaiah Stewart pivot away from the three-point line isn’t exactly helping the situation, even if he did make a notable improvement in his at-rim efficiency.

How to fix it

There isn’t one answer, but the overarching plan right now seem to be through the hope of internal improvements, both individually and collectively.

Detroit will have to play lineups, with Robinson off the floor, in which most players are looking at sub-37% efficiency, and teams are very aware of this.

Will we see opponents begin to play a lot of zone against the Pistons, hoping to take away Cunningham and Ivey’s slashing, and forcing Detroit into more outside shots?

For the Pistons, who seem almost pigeonholed into a playoff spot this season, they might find a way to overcome the lack of floor-spacing optimization, and live up to expectations of making the postseason – but that doesn’t mean they can overcome the same odds when the game slows down, and the same opponent can scout ahead.

This is all to say that Detroit will need to be active on the trade market, if they enter 2026 with below-average three-point efficiency. The team made just 32.4% of those shots against the New York Knicks in the first round, and if they wish to advance further this season, that shot will be a crucial element of the recipe.

Unless noted otherwise, all stats via NBA.com, PBPStats, Cleaning the Glass or Basketball-Reference. All salary information via Spotrac. All odds courtesy of FanDuel Sportsbook.