Pistons’ JB Bickerstaff reveals ‘simple’ solution to slowing down Jayson Tatum on Opening Night appeared first on ClutchPoints. Add ClutchPoints as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Detroit Pistons put forth a winning effort by defeating the Boston Celtics 122-113 in their regular season opener. The victory was not the prettiest, but the Pistons have made gritty victories a part of their identity.
Attempting to limit the high-powered offense of the Celtics was certainly going to be a tough task. The Pistons were able to keep a major part of their offense in check by slowing down All-Star forward Jayson Tatum. He was limited to a quiet day with only 13 points on 6-of-23 shooting from the field and missing all seven 3-point attempts as well.
Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff had a simple explanation for how they were able to keep Tatum in check the way they did.
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“Ausar Thompson, that simple. You get him in one-on-one situations, you’re going to be in for a long night no matter who you are,” Bickerstaff said.
Tatum hunted a lot of looks from mid-range, around the rim, and from deep. He was unable to find his rhythm against the Pistons’ All-NBA defender who guarded him for the majority of the game. Thompson has made his mark on the NBA as one of the most disruptive defensive players in the game, especially against star players.
Thompson fought through screens and switches to stay locked on Tatum as often as possible. He consistently challenged his jumpers and forced him out of the paint to make sure he could never find easy looks. Thompson is a long-range defender with great recovery speed and long arms; he stays active to disrupt your shots even when you least expect it.
Tatum is at his best when he is able to assert his will on the floor as a scorer. The fourth-year wing was able to turn Tatum into a passer and playmaker instead, which played right into the hands of the Pistons. Thompson also drew praise from his teammates after the game for his performance.
“AT (Ausar Thompson) has been working his tail off, man; just over the years, he’s put in so much work. He’s a gym rat; he’s a guy who just consistently wants to get better,” big man Jalen Duren said after the game. “He’s a guy who loves the game, so I’m not surprised about his progression, and I think he’ll only continue to get better. He does so much for us that might not even show up in the stat sheet, but he’s so valuable for our team. We put him in so many different positions and have him guard so many different positions. He does so many things on offense, and he never complains. He just picks it up and goes with it. He’s a hell of a teammate, and I’m glad to be his running mate.”
The Pistons were able to throw different bodies at Tatum when Thompson needed a break. All-Star point guard Cade Cunningham also took the challenge of guarding Tatum when called on. Detroit also took time to play role players like Javonte Green against Tatum to throw new coverages his way. The Pistons take pride in their depth as a team, and it came through in big spots when Detroit needed it most against Boston.
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