Ron Holland may still leave the Pistons with long-term questions, but there’s one part of his game Detroit can’t miss: the swagger. He plays like the shot is going in, even when it isn’t. That kind of offensive fearlessness is exactly what Ausar Thompson needs to borrow.
Thompson has too often looked hesitant with the ball, and that passivity has kept him from making a real imprint on that end. For the Pistons, the next step is simple: they need him to be more aggressive next season, no matter how the numbers shake out. Until Detroit gets a clearer read on what Ausar can do offensively, it won’t know how much help it needs to find elsewhere on the roster.
The contrast with Holland shows up immediately in the shot totals. Thompson averaged just 8 field-goal attempts per game in 26 minutes last season, while Holland got up 7 per game in only 20 minutes. Put them on the floor for the same workload, and it’s hard to picture Holland not shooting even more.
The gap is even bigger from 3-point range. Thompson has never looked comfortable there, and last season was the low point: 0.3 attempts per game.
Holland, by comparison, was far more willing to let it fly at 2.5 threes per game. That came even though he shot just 25% from deep.
The misses didn’t scare him off.
That doesn’t mean Holland is already the finished product. He still has to improve his efficiency or risk becoming a throwaway piece for Detroit.
But his willingness to keep firing at least gives the Pistons something concrete to evaluate. With Ron, they know what they’re getting offensively because he puts it on display every time he steps on the floor.
Thompson’s version of confidence should look a little different. He doesn’t need to mirror Holland possession for possession, even if both bring elite athleticism and the kind of burst that can turn a missed shot into a runout. Ausar has also flashed better decision-making before, and if the Pistons push him to be more assertive, they should hope that comes with more assists, not just more scoring.
What Detroit needs most is a more confident ball-handler. A little more willingness to shoot would help, too, especially since his form has looked surprisingly smooth when he doesn’t have time to overthink it. But the main goal is bigger than just putting up more shots: Thompson has to attack the rim harder and create more for himself and for others.
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Anthony Davis Rumors Ignore One Huge Problem For The Pistons
The Anthony Davis buzz around Detroit comes from a mock trade proposal that would send the Mavericks star to the Pistons, but the basketball fit looks shaky almost as soon as you dig into it. Davis and Jalen Duren would create an awkward overlap in the frontcourt, and the Pistons have not shown any appetite for changing course at center, where Duren remains a key part of what they are building.
There is also the practical side of any deal, which is where the idea starts to wobble even more. Davis has been available only sparingly since arriving in Dallas, and the contract attached to him would be a major burden for Detroit to absorb without tearing into the depth that has helped stabilize the roster, making the whole scenario feel more like speculation than a realistic path forward. [Read more 🡒]