Detroit Pistons: 3 ways they can conclude their season perfectly
By Duncan Smith
How the Detroit Pistons can conclude their season perfectly: Play Saben Lee and Killian Hayes together
Killian Hayes missed 40 games in the middle of the season with a torn labrum but has looked better than ever since returning to action. Maybe his hip was bothering him before the pivotal injury occurred or maybe he’s just more comfortable and confident after being getting a few months around NBA coaching and the league’s environment.
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Either way, he’s showing more of the promise that made him the seventh overall pick in this year’s NBA draft. As he’s progressed, head coach Dwane Casey has entrusted him with responsibility and different ways of usage and expanding his skill set.
One of these ways of expanding his base of experience is that Casey has expressed a desire to play him off the ball a bit more. Of course, “a bit more” doesn’t suggest that he plays more off it than on it, as some may have interpreted when Casey first suggested it. Instead, it means that he wants Hayes playing off the ball more than he has to this point, which has been very little. It’s an expansion of role rather than completely replacing his more prototypical lead guard role.
Hayes has functioned well alongside fellow point guard Saben Lee, and their dual role provides the Pistons with multiple ball-handlers and facilitators. They tried it out in stints on Sunday night against the Chicago Bulls, and Hayes had his best scoring game at the NBA level with 21 points on 9-of-17 from the floor and 3-of-6 from 3-point range.
Depending on how next season’s draft shakes out, Hayes may need to spend some time playing off the ball alongside whoever their top pick is, so there’s no time like the present with minimal stakes to get accustomed to it.