The NBA‘s 3-point shooting revolution continues to shape how teams compete, with most contenders heavily relying on deep shots. The Detroit Pistons, however, buck this trend, ranking near the bottom league-wide in 3-pointers made per game, a rare position shared only with struggling teams like the Dallas Mavericks and Sacramento Kings. The Houston Rockets, despite being strong contenders, also rank low in 3-point production, a coincidence that ties into the presence of the Thompson brothers on both rosters.
Amen Thompson of the Rockets is making waves as a rising star, averaging 17.4 points, 7.6 rebounds, and 5.3 assists per game while scarcely taking outside shots. His brother, Pistons’ Ausar Thompson, mirrors this shooting approach but with less overall production, averaging 10.1 points, 5.9 rebounds, and 2.8 assists. Ausar’s limited threat from beyond the arc is causing floor spacing issues for Detroit, which currently holds the Eastern Conference‘s top seed but faces challenges due to this shooting deficiency.
Recent Struggles and Game-Time Decisions Highlight Shooting Concerns
In Monday night’s loss to the San Antonio Spurs, Ausar Thompson played only 18 minutes, his lowest in over a month, and was noticeably absent during critical moments. Analysts and commentators voiced concerns over his lack of shooting confidence affecting the Pistons’ offensive dynamics. Wosny Lambre noted,
“I thought he kinda stuck out like a sore thumb because at the end of the game when they were trying to catch up, the coach was like ‘yo man, we gotta go with guys like Duncan Robinson and guys we think can spruce the shooting.’”
This strategic shift saw Victor Wembanyama’s defense exploit the Pistons’ shooting struggles. Lambre explained,
“Because at certain points, they were like let’s put Wemby on Ausar Thompson, meaning he doesn’t have to guard anybody and he can just roll. Now it’s 5-on-4. You’re playing against a Wemby defense 5-on-4?! That’s death,”
underscoring the defensive advantage created by Ausar’s limited shooting threat.
Danny Green Draws Parallels to His Own Experience and Offers Advice
Veteran Danny Green related Ausar’s situation to his tenure with the Philadelphia 76ers, recalling struggles faced by players like Matisse Thybulle, whose shooting limitations hindered their effectiveness despite defensive prowess. Green said,
“It reminded me of when I was in Philly and we had Matisse Thybulle,”
before adding,
“He was capable of shooting, but he wasn’t confident. [Defenses] were not reactive, so the big can guard him and also play in the paint and roam. It puts you at a disadvantage. Ausar, he’s got some things to work on,”
highlighting the urgency for improvement in shooting to avoid similar pitfalls.
Green also pointed to the Pistons potentially facing tougher playoff defensive matchups, especially against teams like the New York Knicks, who Detroit swept during the regular season. He predicted head coach Mike Brown could assign defenders like Mitchell Robinson or Karl-Anthony Towns to shadow Ausar and challenge him to shoot, exploiting his hesitancy and potentially limiting Detroit’s offensive options.
Balancing Defensive Strengths with Offensive Challenges
Like Thybulle, Ausar Thompson is a defensive asset, excelling in steals and on-ball pressure. However, without an improved outside shot, the Pistons face a difficult choice between prioritizing defense or offensive spacing in crucial moments. Green’s experience also extends to playing alongside Ben Simmons, another player known for shooting struggles that affected his career trajectory.
Drawing from that, Green shared advice originally from coach Doc Rivers, relevant to Ausar’s development:
“I know Ben Simmons is not what we expected him to be,”
Green said,
“but when we had Doc coaching, that’s what he would tell Ben. Like yo, if they’re not gonna play you, sometimes you attack, but be a DHO guy.”
He continued,
“You should be DHO’ing the hell out of people, because you’re gonna get your shooters wide open, because eventually that big has to come out the paint, and then you can roll and be effective. So you gotta be a great screener when they’re not guarding you,”
emphasizing that becoming a skilled pick-setter could open up more opportunities for Ausar despite shooting deficiencies.
The Road Ahead for Ausar Thompson and the Pistons’ Playoff Hopes
Detroit coach JB Bickerstaff faces a critical decision about whether Ausar can adapt by embracing this suggested role or if the team will continue to prioritize players who provide reliable floor spacing during tight game situations. The Pistons’ success in making a deep playoff run may hinge on how effectively Thompson can improve his shooting or evolve into a more complementary role supporting perimeter scorers.
As the Pistons prepare for the postseason, the tension surrounding Ausar Thompson’s offensive limitations adds an element of urgency and frustration to the team’s outlook. How he responds to this challenge could shape both his career trajectory and Detroit’s playoff trajectory in the near future.
