Coty and Tarohn discuss the improvement of Ausar Thompson and the slow start of Duncan Robinson.
Coty and Tarohn discuss the improvement of Ausar Thompson and the slow start of Duncan Robinson.
Detroit — Duncan Robinson ensured he had enough separation from Houston Rockets center Alperen Sengun. He positioned himself slightly behind Sengun, aware the All-Star big man wouldn’t have enough time to recover if Robinson had the opportunity to take an open 3-point shot.
As expected, Robinson took two steps to reach the right corner of the Toyota Center, which allowed him to make an open 3-pointer in the final seconds of the second quarter. He scored his fourth 3-point field goal of the half, contributing 13 of his 17 points to help the Detroit Pistons take a 115-111 victory over the Rockets on Friday night.
Robinson was critical in helping the Pistons pick up their first victory of the season. In addition to his scoring, Robinson also recorded three blocks. Forty-eight hours earlier, he was detrimental in their disappointing season-opening loss to the Chicago Bulls.
“The other night, coming out like that, I was pretty disappointed,” Robinson said. “The priority was to come back and be who I am. I didn’t recognize that person on Wednesday night (against the Bulls). So, just come out and be aggressive, do what I’ve been doing, trying to impact winning.”
Robinson’s performance against the Rockets has been his lone bright spot this season. The departures of Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr. this summer meant Robinson was going to have a ton of pressure on him when it came to keeping Detroit’s 3-point shooting and floor spacing afloat.
But during the first four games, Robinson has been underwhelming. He has shot 32.0% from beyond the arc and 35.5% from the field, averaging 8.8 points per game. He has made only eight 3-pointers, with half coming against the Rockets.
Several factors might be contributing to Robinson’s slow start, with establishing a rhythm in a new system the main issue.
“Chemistry takes time to build,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said. “He knows how to play. He knows how to find his shots. His teammates are learning how to get him the ball when he is open.”
In the days leading up to training camp, Robinson held several conversations with Caris LeVert. Many of their discussions began with reminiscing about their college days playing together at Michigan, but they also offer one another significant advice.
One conversation the duo had centered on LeVert guiding Robinson in getting accustomed to a new team. It has been an experience LeVert has dealt with on several occasions throughout his career; however, Robinson was fortunate to find sustainability.
Robinson had been a central figure for the Miami Heat, joining the franchise as an undrafted free agent in 2018. He thrived playing in one offensive system and playing under one coach, Erik Spoelstra. As a result, Robinson was able to establish himself as one of the league’s premier 3-point shooters. He played over 423 career games with the Heat, shooting 39.7% from behind the arc amid a scoring average of 11.3 points.
While attempting to find his rhythm to match his production with the Heat, the Pistons believe Robinson has still been “beneficial” by demonstrating his importance in various ways.
“There’s a maturity that he plays the game with, and an understanding of all the little things that matter,” Bickerstaff said. “As far as the intangibles, being able to understand the system quickly and help teach the system quickly, obviously, the shot making. But he is elite at moving without the ball and helps your ball keep moving as well. He doesn’t hold onto it, he doesn’t stop it. He helps your offense keep ticking so teams have to keep chasing you throughout the clock.
Bickerstaff continued: “He’s been really, really good as a team defender — being in his right spots and being able to communicate from those spots. So he’s been beneficial for us on the court, off the court, both ends of the court; He’s meant a lot to us early.”
While Robinson’s struggles have been a significant concern, he is just a small part of a much larger issue for the Pistons during their 2-2 start.
Injuries have disrupted Bickerstaff’s preferred rotations, forcing him to use several unexpected lineups, making it hard for any player — not just Robinson — to find a rhythm at the start of a new year.
coty.davis@detroitnews.com
@cotydavis_24
