Count a former Detroit Pistons coach among those with doubts about the Pistons’ chances of making a deep playoff run.
Former Pistons coach and current Prime NBA analyst Stan Van Gundy appeared on a Tuesday, Feb. 24, episode of FanDuel TV’s “Run It Back,” where he expressed some concerns about the Pistons’ shooting struggles and how they would translate to increased intensity in the playoffs.
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“I have my doubts about the Pistons in the playoffs,” he said. “When teams really lock in and prepare, I think it’s going to be hard for Cade Cunningham to get room on the floor. There’s no one other than Duncan Robinson who scares you on that team.”
The Pistons are coming off a 114-103 loss to the San Antonio Spurs that emphasized Detroit’s biggest weakness: 3-point shooting. The Pistons shot 7-for-36 from beyond the arc (19.4%) while the Spurs were 18-for-40 (45%).
And while those numbers are below season averages for the Pistons, the averages aren’t that stellar, either. The Pistons enter Wednesday’s game against Oklahoma City 28th in the league in 3-pointers made per game (11.1) and 21st in 3-point percentage (34.9%), with only Robinson (three) and Cunningham (two) averaging multiple made 3s per game.
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The Pistons attempted to address their three-point concerns by trading for shooting guard Kevin Huerter, who at points in his eight-year career has been a long-distance threat with the Atlanta Hawks, Sacramento Kings and Chicago Bulls. However, Huerter is just 1-for-9 shooting from 3 with the Pistons over four games since he arrived at the trade deadline, and has not played in three games since the All-Star break.
“I think they’re going to struggle for this year until they can go out and get more shooting,” Van Gundy said.
Even if he has his doubts, Van Gundy still praised the Pistons, calling them “great to watch.”
“They give you everything they’ve got every night,” he said. “They are, in my opinion, the most consistent team in the league in terms of what they bring to the floor.”
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( MUST WATCH: Make “The Pistons Pulse” your go-to Pistons podcast, listen available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) or watch live on YouTube. )
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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Stan Van Gundy explains doubts Detroit Pistons can make playoff run