Detroit Pistons: 5 keys to series vs Milwaukee Bucks

Key Number 3: Can the Pistons slow down or keep up with the Bucks?

The Mike Budenholzer offense has gradually evolved through the years, and he was pulling all the right strings and pushing all the right buttons this year. The team finished fourth in offensive rating.

The Bucks weren’t the best at draining 3-point shots, as they ranked just 16th in 3-point percentage this year. They made up for that by taking a bunch of them and spacing the floor for guys like Giannis, Khris Middleton, Eric Bledsoe and Malcolm Brogdon to slash to the rim.

So they didn’t shoot the best percentage from 3-point range. Oh well, say the Bucks. They led the league in field goal percentage from 2-point range, and they were second in the league in effective field-goal percentage.

The Pistons were even worse marksmen from downtown, as their mark of 34.8 percent was 23rd in the NBA. If the Bucks get hot from deep, can the Pistons muster the offense to keep up with them?

The Pistons were better on defense than they were on offense, but they were still only the 12th best team in the league on that end of the floor.

They’ve also lost their best defensive wing in Johnson and their modern 3-and-D wing Bullock finished out the year with the Los Angeles Lakers. Casey is going to have to work some magic to keep his team within striking distance against this offense.