The last time the Detroit Pistons captured the number one seed in the Eastern Conference, George W. Bush was president, the first iPhone was still months from being released, and Cade Cunningham was in kindergarten. It’s been a long, grueling 19 years of Pistons basketball since they sat atop the East. Now, in 2026, with Donald Trump in the White House, Apple on its 17th iteration of the iPhone, MVP candidate Cade Cunningham has the Pistons five games clear of the Boston Celtics for the top spot in the East.
At 45-15, the Pistons have established themselves as one of the best teams in all of the NBA. It’s been a remarkable turnaround after winning only 14 games just two seasons ago. J.B. Bickerstaff has brought a culture of toughness and physicality that is rare in today’s league. Cade is firmly in the running for MVP, Jalen Duren has blossomed into an All-Star, and Isaiah Stewart is one of the premier defenders in the NBA.
Yet, questions remain about how far this team can go in the playoffs. Outside of Duncan Robinson, there is a dearth of perimeter shooting in the rotation. Coupled with the lack of a true secondary scorer, and it is easy to conceive of a scenario where the Pistons fall short of making a Finals run. While the defense has consistently been dominant, the offense needs to find a few solutions.
Ausar’s offense is the key for the Pistons in the playoffs
Enter Ausar Thompson. Arguably the best perimeter defender in the NBA, Ausar is a complete game-wrecker. On Tuesday in Cleveland he almost single-handedly willed the Pistons back into the game with four steals and his usual disruptive defense in the fourth quarter. Despite the loss, Thompson put up 16 points, six rebounds, and six assists in 31 minutes, well above his season average.
The concern with Thompson has always been his offensive game. For as good as he is on D, he has often been a liability in the half court offense. Now in year 3, he has not yet developed into the secondary ballhandler that many had hoped for. Yet, flashes of it are there. Thompson is at his best when he is decisive and aggressive going to the rim.
In the playoffs, teams are going to take advantage of the Pistons poor three-point shooting. Cade Cunningham will see more and more double-teams, forcing someone else to step up. Ausar Thompson should be the answer. His defense alone should give him more minutes. The numbers reflect his impact on the game. Whether it’s on/off numbers, offensive and defensive win shares, or net rating, the Pistons are a better team when Ausar Thompson is on the floor. Even more simply, the Pistons are 21-4 this season when he plays 27+ minutes.
In a series against the Celtics, Knicks, or Cavs, Ausar will be tasked with guarding Jaylen Brown, Jalen Brunson, or Donovan Mitchell/James Harden. That task alone is difficult enough, but he has more to give on the offensive end. Over the final 20 games of the season, J.B. Bickerstaff has to tinker with the rotation to find his best offensive group. Caris LeVert has not been the answer many had hoped for off the bench. Can Ausar find a higher level on the offensive end? His athleticism is special, he needs to use it to be more of a force on the offensive end. It will gain him more playing time, and the Pistons need him on the floor as much as possible. For the Pistons to go on a deep playoff run, Ausar Thompson is the key.
