Through 13 games, the Detroit Pistons have already built a 2.5 game lead over second place in the Eastern Conference, and much of the squad’s success can be traced back to head coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s intense coaching methods and next-man-up mentality. 

In the early stages of the regular season, the Pistons have opened up as one of the toughest rim-protecting teams in the NBA with Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart patrolling the paint. But Detroit’s defensive tenacity is not restricted to the low post. Instead, perimeter defenders such as Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland have shown their willingness to clog passing lanes and to snag steals when applicable, and that’s helped jumpstart Detroit’s transition game as well.

Bickerstaff is teaching the Pistons a brand of complimentary basketball that is already paying dividends this season. However, Detroit has caught one of the worst injury bugs in the league lately as the team missed upwards of seven key players for a Central Division matchup with the Chicago Bulls two games ago, so Bickerstaff is looking for stop-gaps at the moment. And while Daniss Jenkins has done well to fill in for Cade Cunningham lately and Paul Reed has even offered his closest Jalen Duren impression, the Pistons are still searching for another replacement for Thompson’s talent. 

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Standing at 6-7, Thompson is a dynamo on the wing thanks to his speed, leaping ability, defensive aggressiveness and willingness to race down the floor on the break. Over the offseason, Thompson worked tirelessly on his dribbling and ball handling skills so that he could also contribute in that area when Cunningham needs a breather, so the third-year point forward has a truly rare combination of skills and abject athletic ability, and the Pistons are anxiously awaiting for the gamebreaker to be available once again. 

“That's what we're looking for from Ausar,” Bickerstaff said. “You know, we can talk about it over and over again, but his skill set is so unique, and the things that he can do with the ball in his hands and then on the defensive end of the floor, there's just not many people that can do them, the feel that he has for the game, you know, the trust that we have in him to handle the ball and make the right decision.” 

This year, Thompson is logging 13.9 points, 6.6 rebounds, 3.4 assists and nearly 2 steals per game, so the defensive stalwart has been getting after it on both ends of the court during the Pistons’ nine game winning streak. 

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“He makes defenses have to make tough decisions. You know, they want to put their five on him. We put them in the pick and roll– now he's a roll threat with the ball in his hands, and he can play make from the pocket. So, there's so many things that we can do with him, and he's just going to need to grow and get better in the season.”

Thompson is a player that opens up the playbook for Bickerstaff and his assistant coaches in Detroit, but he’s currently dealing with a sprained ankle that’s held him out of the last several games. In his absence, Holland has filled in as a speedy wing defender that can moonlight as a ball handler if needed to, but the Pistons still lack a bit of dynamism that is present when Thompson is on the floor. 

From a matchup standpoint, Thompson can guard virtually any player on the opponent's squad given his length, speed in switching and willingness to mix it up in the post. Thompson has a high basketball IQ, and he uses his ability to read the game to force turnovers. In all, Thompson creates repeated nightmare situations for opposing ball handlers when he's on the court. 

Look for the Pistons to continue shifting their lineup as players gradually grow healthier when the squad hosts the 1-12 Indiana Pacers on Monday, Nov. 17 at 7 pm.

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