Detroit Pistons: 3 goals for Ish Smith in 2018-19

2. Increase his assists per game

Smith won’t be the starter unless Jackson is injured, but he will have full control of the offense when the bench unit is on the floor. Similar to how Fred VanVleet played in Toronto, Smith will have full rein under Casey.

Last season, he only averaged 4.4 assists per game. With a likely improved offense, that number should only go up. The Pistons worked to add more shooting and slashers this offseason. Smith should take advantage of that.

With more minutes, his numbers will go up. His career-high assist mark was 6.5 per game when he played with the Philadelphia 76ers as their starting point guard. More minutes and more offense equals more assists. The stage is set for Smith to achieve this goal, but he has to seize it by staying healthy. He only has four seasons in his career where he has played at least 70 games. His availability will be key for his and the team’s success.

The Pistons ranked 19th in offensive rating last season. Under Casey, with the new pieces in place, the offense will improve. With Smith on the bench stirring their drink, they should rank much higher than the 20th in bench points that they finished last season. Ish isn’t elite at breaking down defenses or shooting, but he knows how to take care of the ball while making the right pass.