Cade Cunningham praises Pistons’ sneaky-good offseason addition
The Detroit Pistons needed to change their plans to signal Malik Beasley to a profitable deal final summer time, as an alternative pivoting to Duncan Robinson, who has quietly been one of many league’s most vital additions.
Beasley was a revelation final season when he was second in made 3-pointers within the NBA off the Pistons’ bench, however a playing investigation ruined any likelihood of operating it again though there was mutual curiosity in a reunion.
A big swath of followers was displeased with the swap for Robinson, who was seen as a downgrade, largely as a result of followers solely centered on 3-point taking pictures.
Beasley was the most effective quantity 3-point shooter within the NBA final season, so these have been all the time going to be onerous sneakers to fill, however Robinson has confirmed he’s extra and has truly been an improve once you have a look at the entire bundle.
Duncan Robinson is healthier than Malik Beasley, however playoffs would be the take a look at
When the Pistons signed Robinson followers have been disillusioned, however it had much less to do with Robinson and extra to do with Beasley being a favourite fan who received over Detroit together with his taking pictures and shimmy.
But Beasley was a one-trick pony whose solely job was to run off screens and shoot 3-point photographs. Whenever Beasley needed to put the ball on the ground or take a shot contained in the 3-point line, it normally led to catastrophe.
Beasley shot simply 46 p.c from 2-point vary and averaged a turnover per sport though he was hardly ever requested to dribble.
Robinson by comparability is averaging fewer factors per sport than Beasley did, however he is doing it much more effectively, taking pictures 59 p.c from contained in the 3-point line and displaying the power to assault aggressive shut outs and end within the lane, one thing Beasley hardly ever did.
When Robinson does not have a shot or drive, he retains the ball transferring and is scoring 12 a sport on only a 15 p.c utilization, lowest since his rookie season, whereas Beasley had 22 p.c utilization, and that was off the bench.
Cade Cunningham observed and mentioned of his teammate, “He’s been the best movement shooter since he’s been in the league. Somebody that just moves so well, so freely, and he has a lot of gravity as far as when he’s coming off a screen, guys know they have to come out to him, so he’s able to make a lot of plays out of that. He’s good off the bounce too. He can drive, close-outs and everything and really make you pay, so just a really good player, a high IQ player that we’re lucky to have.”
There has been some negative focus on Robinson’s defense, but he has more than doubled Beasley’s defensive win shares, he has a better defensive rating and Robinson is a part of nearly all of the Pistons’ best defensive lineups, so he hasn’t killed Detroit.
The true test will be in the playoffs, as teams are going to target Robinson, who isn’t going to win many one-on-one battles, but he’s at least a smart team defender with size who can bother shots. Only time will tell if he’ll be a liability when the games slow down.
Robinson has been a sneaky-good improve for the Pistons thus far, however the playoffs will finally resolve the narrative.
