The Pistons are heading into 2026 with a noticeably different offensive plan, and J.B. Bickerstaff is making it clear that the changes were by design.
Detroit’s offseason didn’t shake out exactly the way anyone might have expected, but Bickerstaff said the front office and coaching staff used the summer to tackle the issues that mattered most. The goal was simple: make the offense harder to guard and less predictable.
A big part of that came through personnel. The Pistons added more shooting and more spacing, with Isaiah Joe and John Collins among the new faces expected to stretch defenses and open up the floor. That, in turn, should give Detroit more ways to score and keep opponents from loading up on the team’s main offensive options.
“We try not to come back into the same season doing the exact same things that we've done in the past,” Bickerstaff explained.
He expanded on that idea even further when talking about what the offense should look like this season.
“This year, we made some changes offensively. Things that make us harder to guard.
The bit of threat of shooting on the back end of it exaggerates that. So we've made some tweaks, you know, it'll be pretty easy to see once we get out there.”
The roster changes are only part of the picture, though. Bickerstaff is also counting on internal growth, and Cade Cunningham sits right at the center of that expectation. The coach believes Cunningham is ready for a bigger and better season, one built on the maturity he’s shown and the leadership responsibilities he’s already embraced.
“The best part about Cade is you don't have to challenge him to be great. Right? Like, he wakes up every morning with the goal of seizing that day and being great,” Bickerstaff said.
“We have a ton of conversations about what's necessary and just back and forth about improvement areas and those types of things.”
Ron Holland is another player the Pistons are watching closely. Bickerstaff wants the young forward to play with more force and more confidence, especially on offense. He also acknowledged that Holland’s role and usage during his development as the No. 5 overall pick was something he took responsibility for.
Going forward, Detroit wants to lean into one of Holland’s best traits: getting to the rim and finishing there. At the same time, the team will keep pushing his perimeter shooting, which could unlock more of his offensive game.
Put it all together, and the Pistons are trying to become a tougher, more flexible team to defend. The new additions help, but so does the belief that Cunningham, Holland and the rest of the group can take a step forward. Bickerstaff thinks the changes were necessary, and now the season will show whether they pay off.
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