Pistons’ playoff collapse gives Rockets a warning they can’t afford to waste

The 60-win, first-seeded Detroit Pistons have officially lost in the second round to the Cleveland Cavaliers. It was a disappointing playoff run for the Pistons, who had real championship aspirations going into the postseason.

Detroit’s biggest weakness throughout the season was three-point shooting. They built their ninth-ranked offense on scoring inside the paint. In the playoffs, that style of offense was not enough to bring their championship dreams to fruition. The Houston Rockets should take note.

In the modern NBA, you need three-point shooting

Basketball will always be built around scoring near the basket. The idea of the three-point revolution is that it spreads the defense out and creates easier looks at the rim. Teams without reliable three-point shooters cannot create enough space to consistently score inside.

That is what prevented the Pistons from accomplishing their ambitious goal this season. In the regular season, Detroit made only 11.0 threes per game, 28th in the NBA.

Detroit increased that number to just under 12 threes per game in the playoffs, but that still was not nearly enough. Orlando and Cleveland were able to aggressively crash into the paint and stymie the Pistons’ offense.

Houston’s offense has a similar problem. The Rockets lack reliable three-point shooters, which makes it extremely difficult to score. That is part of the reason Houston’s offense completely fell apart in the playoffs. Admittedly, losing Kevin Durant was also a major factor.

Most teams have figured out the importance of shooting. You do not need to overwhelm your opponent with three-pointers, but you need enough shooting to prevent defenses from collapsing the paint.

The Spurs ranked only 16th in three-pointers made during the regular season, but that was enough to keep their offense afloat and help get them to the Conference Finals. Similarly, the seemingly unbeatable Oklahoma City Thunder ranked just 13th in three-pointers made.

Those teams do not rely solely on threes, but they have enough shooting to keep defenses honest. That is the lesson Houston needs to take away from this year’s playoffs.

How can Houston improve its shooting?

Any team built around Amen Thompson and Alperen Sengun will have spacing issues. If Houston decides those two players are the future of the team, the front office will need to surround them with three above-average shooters.

Reed Sheppard is a great start. Fred VanVleet is another good option. Kevin Durant will not be on the team long term, while Tari Eason and Jabari Smith Jr. are fairly average shooters. Since Houston does not have a first-round draft pick this year, the Rockets will likely need to find more shooting either in free agency or via trade.

This postseason should be a lesson that finding more shooting is not optional. It is a necessity. Defense and paint scoring can only take a team so far. Houston needs a diverse, reliable offense to compete for a championship. To have that, the Rockets need three-point shooting.

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