Detroit Pistons: 3 big questions heading into 2019-20 season

3. Can they hit more 3-point shots?

The Detroit Pistons were sixth in 3-point attempt rate last season with 39.4 percent of their shots coming from 3-point range. They attempted 2,855 shots from 3-point range, but they made just 34.8 percent of them, which was good enough for 23rd in the NBA.

If you’re going to take nearly 2/5 of your shots from outside, you have to hit them at a higher clip. Otherwise, you’re just wasting possessions on long rebounds.

Among the top 10 teams in 3-point attempts last season, seven of them made the playoffs, and three of those seven were in the conference finals, with the Portland Trail Blazers being the lone team to break that trend, and they shot 35.9 percent from 3-point range, which ranked eighth in the NBA.

If you’re going to take all of those shots, you have to make a lot more of them. Teams that hit shots win games.

Blake Griffin and Reggie Jackson both had great seasons based on their career marks coming into last season, as they both finished the year north of 36 percent. However, the rest of the team wasn’t hitting their shots alongside them.

In 2019, the Pistons need their role players to knock down 3-point shots at a higher rate. That could be difficult considering Tony Snell is the only veteran they added this offseason with a career 3-point percentage above 33.8 percent.