3/1/26 6:00PM Pistons 44-14 @ Magic 31-27

[Deleterious]

If you need a visual.  See all the large hexagons in the midrange area?  Do not crowd that area more for your guy.

[gehringer_2]

1 hour ago, Deleterious said:

If you need a visual.  See all the large hexagons in the midrange area?  Do not crowd that area more for your guy.

I'd say don't let the perfect be the enemy of the better. The fact that two players might be in the same place doesn't mean they will be there at the same time. In the example shot against the other night, it was on a break and Cade was elsewhere on the court while Duren's route to the basket was going to be blocked. It was a good shot to take under the circumstances and was useful to have in his arsenal. Of course it would be better if could shoot from 25 -- Duren with a .375 3pt % would be a superstar. But in the real world where that likely never comes, a player that can shoot confidently from 10-20 still has more tools than one that can't, for instance after an offensive rebound in that range. For serious spacing purposes you want a different guy altogether, one for whom the 3pt shot is major part of his game. That's been the on-going debate. If that is what you really need, you move Duren because I doubt that will ever be true of Duren. But if you keep Duren you may eventually get a player who can at least get his own shot without getting to the basket every time. You wouldn't be trying to build your offense around that, you're just trying to give a player more options for the opportunities when they are useful. 

The real question is: Can any guy that can learn to shot from 15 learn to shoot from 25? I don't  know that answer, I would assume not. But that is an assumption made in ignorance. If it's wrong then I grant you are 100% correct. 🧎‍♂️

Edited yesterday at 06:44 AM by gehringer_2

[papalawrence]

That was one of their best games of the season imho, even with the 3s. I hope they can find a way to pay JD and then Ausar and Holland. And still avoid the stankin' aprons

[Betrayer]

The defense in the second half of this game was amazing. Without that, they're a poor half court team trying to outscore their opponent which will never work for this team. Get stops, get out and run. They held Orlando to 35 points in the half. That's nuts in 2026.

Yes, I'm making another case for Ausar's minutes. He had 9 pts, 11 rebs, 3 assists, 5 stocks, and the third highest +/- of any Piston player. He did all that in just 21 minutes. Sure, he was in foul trouble for a bit in the first half, but he only finished with 3 fouls and there's no reason he shouldn't have still hit at least 25 minutes in this one while Caris gets 20 minutes.

[Hart]

19 hours ago, Deleterious said:

I hope not.  Teaching him a midrange jumper would be a bad idea.  Never mind it's the least efficient shot in all basketball, It's where your star player makes his living.   Don't put another body in that area and crowd his space.  It also does zero to alleviate the spacing issues.  Duren standing around 10-12 feet to shoot a jumper leaves his defender well within help distance of anyone driving.  He needs to be out 25 feet drawing their big away from the hoop.  3 point shot only, do not teach him a midrange jumper.  

Three point shot would be great but this mindset that it's all or nothing between three pointers and mid range jumpers needs to go away.  I would think it's much easier for a guy like Duren to become a threat from 15 feet than 24 feet.  Either would do a lot for his value.  

[Deleterious]

1 hour ago, Hart said:

Three point shot would be great but this mindset that it's all or nothing between three pointers and mid range jumpers needs to go away.  I would think it's much easier for a guy like Duren to become a threat from 15 feet than 24 feet.  Either would do a lot for his value.  

It absolutely does not need to go away.  And no, him developing a midrange shot would not help his value, it would hurt it.  Teams would pray Duren shoots the midrange all game.

League averages by distance:

At rim: 65–70%

Midrange: 40–45%

Three-point: 35–38%

What that translates to as points per shot

Rim: 0.68 × 2 = 1.36 points

Midrange: 0.43 × 2 = 0.86 points

Three: 0.36 × 3 = 1.08 points

If you’re shooting 43% from 18 feet, that’s equivalent to shooting about 29% from three.  Congrats, way to spend all of those developmental hours on turning Duren into Ausar Thompson.

Get him in a gym this summer shooting thousands of three's.  He doesn't have be Steph here, he doesn't have to shoot 40%.  33% is the floor, if he can hit that then defenses at least have to pay attention to him out there.  That would create a lot of spacing for Cade and others, unlike Duren shooting the midrange where his defender will still be near the paint.