Three quick observations from Sunday’s 100-85 win over the Indiana Pacers at UNLV”s Cox Pavilion
THAT’S A WRAP – The Pistons finished Summer League with a 4-1 record after Sunday’s win over Indiana, a game in which rookie standout Ausar Thompson sat but the other first-round pick, Marcus Sasser, played and he’ll no doubt leave Summer League feeling much better about the experience after a dynamic second-half showing. Sasser had been as advertised for the Pistons through his first four games in all ways except as a shooter, particularly from the 3-point line. But he was sensational in Sunday’s second half, scoring 31 of his 40 points and finding his touch from the 3-point arc while also displaying tremendous feel as a pick-and-roll ballhandler. Sasser got himself going with some buckets around the rim out of pick-and-roll penetration, then found himself from the 3-point line and in the mid-range, as well. Sasser hit 13 of 14 shots in the second half. In the process, he got experience at a position he didn’t play much in college, point guard, and he’s not likely to see much time there with the Pistons in the near term, either, not with Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Monte Morris and Killian Hayes in the fold. But it figures to be great exposure for Sasser to be thrust into a position where he has to organize his team and process situations. He did it masterfully, finishing with five assists and zero turnovers in 29 minutes. What a finish for the 25th pick in last month’s draft. Even before Sunday’s scoring outburst, Sasser had impressed with his hard-nosed defense, smarts and toughness. The Pistons knew his scoring instincts would surface once he grew comfortable with the pace and athleticism and it all came together for Sasser in the Summer League finale after he had shot 4 of 25 from three over the first four games. He hit 5 of 9 on Sunday.
SUMMER STANDOUT – Despite his absence from the Summer League finale, Ausar Thompson accomplished enough in the four previous games to qualify as the most encouraging bit of work the Pistons achieved during their time in the desert. Thompson’s all-around impact on games allowed the Pistons to go 2-0 with him even after Jaden Ivey, Jalen Duren and James Wiseman were shut down. His ability to affect winning in so many ways was the revelation of Summer League as he stamped himself one of the standout performers across all teams. The Pistons will go into the 2023-24 season with the best depth they’ve had in years and no urgent need to rush the No. 5 pick into the mix, but Thompson’s athleticism, defensive versatility and impact, transition flair and playmaking capability will make him an easy fit in any lineup Monty Williams might devise. Of players to play more than two games in Las Vegas, Thompson was one of only two to average a double-double at 13.5 points and 10.0 rebounds. He also averaged 2.3 steals and 1.8 blocked shots per game. He shot 46.5 percent from the field and averaged 4.3 free-throw attempts per game.
WHAT’S NEXT – With Summer League in the rear-view mirror, the Pistons will turn their attention to their off-season development program for the many young players on their roster and rounding out the roster. The Pistons still have one open roster spot and one more two-way slot to fill, if they so choose, plus determining which other players might be worthy of an invitation to training camp. There is also the possibility of trades, of course, now that the vast majority of teams have exhausted their free-agent resources and look to address roster needs they don’t feel they met via the draft or free agency. Jared Rhoden, one of their two-way contracts, sat out Friday’s fourth game but returned to the starting lineup on Sunday and finished with eight points and four rebounds. Rhoden averaged 8.3 points and 5.0 rebounds and hit 37.5 percent from three over his first four games. Malcolm Cazalon, the other two-way contract addition, sat out Sunday after drawing his first start and scoring 16 points in Friday’s win over San Antonio. Cazalon averaged 7.8 points, 2.3 rebounds and 1.3 steals in 17 minutes a game over his four games.