Ausar Thompson is making it hard to overlook what he’s become on the offensive end.
With Jalen Duren sidelined, the Pistons have needed someone else to create alongside Cade Cunningham, and Thompson has filled that role in the team’s first NBA Cup game of the season against the Nets. By halftime, he had 9 points, 5 rebounds and 4 assists, and he finished the half with a reverse layup off a crossover that looked every bit like a player growing into his game.
What stands out most is how much more comfortable Thompson looks as a playmaker. One game after leading the Pistons in assists - a job that usually belongs to Cade - he was doing it again, setting the tone for the offense and helping create easy looks for others. His passes have already led to a wide-open dunk for John Collins and three kickouts that turned into made threes for Duncan Robinson and Kevin Huerter.
That kind of growth matters for Detroit. Thompson’s defense has always been his calling card, but his offensive development gives him another layer that the Pistons badly need.
He can’t disappear on that end, especially with the minutes he’s playing and the way defenses have traditionally treated him. This season, though, it’s clear he spent time sharpening things over the offseason.
He’s not just passing better, either. Thompson has also shown more confidence in creating his own shot.
He’s attacking the rim against weaker defenders and, when defenses give him space, he’s willing to pull up and knock down midrange looks. The three-point shot still isn’t part of the equation, but the two-level scoring is enough to make defenders think twice, especially with his athleticism and passing vision in the mix.
Cade remains the engine of the Pistons’ offense, and that won’t change just because Thompson is improving. But this leap gives Detroit something it badly needs: another creator who can help while Cade sits, and ease the load when he’s on the floor. Thompson’s progression could be especially useful for bench groups, where a little extra shot creation goes a long way.
Duren’s injury has only put more responsibility on Thompson to show what he can do, and so far he has answered. The process won’t be perfect - he’s still learning how to attack with more confidence and put his new tools into action consistently - but this is exactly the kind of stretch Detroit needed from him.
If Thompson keeps this up, he could be a very different offensive player by the playoffs. And that would give the Pistons a much higher ceiling when it matters most.
In Other News...
Pistons Suddenly Linked To A Scorer Who Could Change Their Ceiling
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Nothing is confirmed, of course, and that is where the intrigue lives for Detroit. Still, the fit is easy to see on paper, which is why the speculation has gained traction so quickly around a team that could use more shot-making as it tries to take the next step. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Suddenly Have A Frontcourt Need Precious Achiuwa Could Solve
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One name that fits the bill is Precious Achiuwa, who is now with the Sacramento Kings and has shown enough recently to keep him on Detroits radar. His contract is manageable, and his ability to line up at both center and power forward gives the Pistons a little more flexibility than a pure backup big would, which is why he makes sense as the kind of trade target that could help patch the frontcourt without forcing a major overhaul. [Read more 🡒]
Ron Holland Showed The Offensive Spark Pistons Fans Have Waited For
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Detroit seized control with a 31-7 third-quarter run and turned defense into easy offense by forcing 24 turnovers, the sort of formula that has fueled this strong start. Hollands scoring outburst fit neatly into that picture, giving the Pistons another dimension on a night when their depth and pressure overwhelmed Brooklyn, and it leaves plenty of curiosity about how much more of that aggression can carry over as the schedule tightens. [Read more 🡒]