Ron Holland II didn’t ease into his first preseason game for the Detroit Pistons. He hit the floor like a burst of electricity, and the box score ended up looking every bit as wild as his style of play.
That’s the lane Holland seems built for right now: immediate impact, nonstop activity, and just enough unpredictability to make him stand out the second he checks in. Last season, that kind of “agent of chaos” presence belonged to Paul Reed, who now settles in as the full-time backup center. Holland may be next in line to own that label for Detroit.
JB Bickerstaff gave Holland plenty of runway in the opener, and the rookie answered with a mixed bag that showed both why he matters and why there’s still work to do. He logged a team-high 24 minutes and finished with 14 points, but he got there inefficiently, making just 4 of 12 shots and only one of four from 3-point range.
Even with the jumper off, Holland didn’t disappear from the offense. He found his way to the foul line eight times, mostly by putting pressure on the rim after closeouts. That kind of rim attack is a good sign, especially when the outside shot isn’t cooperating.
He also chipped in four rebounds, including three on the offensive glass, which is another way he can swing a game without needing to score cleanly. With his size and athleticism on the wing, there’s room for that part of his game to grow, especially since he averaged just over one offensive rebound per game last season.
Then came the chaos in full. Holland piled up five steals and two blocks, the kind of disruptive numbers that can change the feel of a game fast. But there was another side to it too: three turnovers, a reminder that the same energy that makes him dangerous can also get loose.
After barely seeing the floor in the playoffs, Holland clearly arrived ready to go. He looked like a player who had been waiting to unleash all that force at once.
It won’t always be clean, but that’s not really the point right now. Holland is already making his presence felt, and if the shots start to fall more consistently, he has a chance to grow into a more complete wing instead of leaning so heavily on hustle and chaos to leave his mark.
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Isaiah Stewarts Rough Memphis Start Says A Lot About Detroits Decision
Isaiah Stewarts move from Detroit to Memphis was supposed to be a fresh start, a chance to see how his rugged game would translate in a new setting after the offseason trade. Instead, his first few minutes with the Grizzlies brought a familiar worry back into focus. Stewart has long played with the kind of physical edge that makes him valuable, but also the kind of style that invites questions about how long it can last when the games get heavier and the calendar gets longer.
The early setback in Memphis only sharpens the reason the Pistons were willing to move on. Detroit had concerns about whether Stewarts approach could survive the grind of a deep postseason push, and the new chapter opened with another reminder that durability is part of the evaluation. For a player whose edge has always been tied to his strength and activity, the bigger question now is whether that same identity can stay on the floor when it matters most. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Trade That Felt Empty Suddenly Has Something To Prove
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One of the names worth tracking is Ebuka Okorie, a pick-swap selection who has flashed promise in preseason and given the front office at least a reason to keep watching. Kevin Huerter is also in the mix after getting through offseason surgery and looking ready to help as a versatile bench option, giving the Pistons a healthier, more experienced piece to lean on as they try to squeeze something tangible out of a trade that has not yet paid off in the obvious way. [Read more 🡒]
John Collins Already Brought An Edge Pistons Fans Will Notice
The Pistons got a pretty clear look at John Collins edge early in the preseason opener against Phoenix, when he and Dillon Brooks got tangled up in a physical exchange that set the tone for a chippy night. Brooks was assessed a technical foul and Collins was hit with a flagrant 1, the kind of sequence that immediately catches attention in October even if it wont mean anything once the games start counting for real.
Brooks later disputed the technical, while Collins made it clear he is ready for the kind of physical battles that come with an NBA season. For Detroit, that matters as much as the call itself. The Pistons are still sorting out how much toughness and bite they can consistently bring, and Collins already showed he is not going to shy away from that side of the game. [Read more 🡒]