Pistons have a frustrating Duncan Robinson problem that has only gotten worse
The Detroit Pistons acquired free agent Duncan Robinson final offseason by way of a sign-and-trade, hoping he’d be a weapon for them within the playoffs, however as a substitute, he is been the opposite. When they wanted him most in Game 4, he wasn’t there. He scored only seven factors on 1-of-6 capturing from three in 29 minutes of their 94-88 loss to the Magic on Monday, and was a team-worst -18.
His photographs weren’t falling, and the Magic had been searching him on protection. He was a damaging on each ends, to the purpose the place JB Bickerstaff benched him for the final 9 minutes of the sport, only subbing him again in with 24.4 seconds remaining when Detroit wanted one thing. Robinson could not ship.
The unhappy factor is, when Robinson was on the bench within the fourth, followers had been questioning why he wasn’t taking part in when the Pistons could not purchase a bucket. That tells you every part you already knew about Detroit’s ice-cold offense.
Duncan Robinson was a damaging once more for the Pistons
Cade Cunningham has fought the previous two video games, capturing 8-of-23 in Game 3 and 7-of-23 on Monday. When he cannot get something going (and he did not hit a single shot within the fourth quarter), the Pistons desperately want another person to show to. At the very least, somebody to knock down outside shots to assist with spacing. That’s the place Robinson ought to are available.
He arrived in Detroit in an excellent alternative after coming off the bench for Miami in half the video games he performed in his closing season. Robinson began all 77 regular-season video games he performed for the Pistons, averaging 12.2 factors on 45.6% capturing from the sphere and 41% from three, the latter being his highest share since his second season within the league.
Robinson has but to hit 12 factors in Detroit’s 4 playoff video games, averaging 9 factors on 33.3% capturing from the sphere and 37% from three.
The Pistons had been instantly criticized for signing Robinson to a three-year, $48 million deal after buying him, earlier than it was revealed that only $2 million of his $15.9 million wage for subsequent season is assured, and his $15.1 million wage for 2027-28 is non-guaranteed. Detroit gave itself an out in case it wanted it.
Wednesday might be the 32-year-old’s closing likelihood to show himself in a Pistons uniform in a do-or-die sport. Robinson is able to serving to to shift the tide again in Detroit’s favor, however he is but to point out that because the first spherical started. Fans can only hope that it should quickly change.
