#5 Pick Ron Holland II to debut for Pistons vs. Pacers

Tonight, Wing/Forward Ron Holland II will make his debut for the Detroit Pistons in their game against the Indiana Pacers to open the regular season. The top-five pick struggled with efficiency in the preseason but brought his brand of high-energy basketball to bear on defense and on the glass.

He averaged 7.6 points, 3.6 rebounds, 2.8 assists and 1.4 saves in 22.8 minutes per game. While these numbers may not be immediately obvious, his impact was felt beyond his stats. Against the Milwaukee Bucks, he scored 10 points, six rebounds and five assists and also had a good defensive performance, which led to a quick break opportunity in which he scored.

His transition game is one of his best attributes, as it allows him to showcase his athleticism and open court skills in these situations. The fact that his defense can lead to these chances represents a truly effective skill, especially for a team that has struggled to create offensive opportunities in recent years.

Holland's biggest problem, however, is his inability to shoot three-pointers – he connected on just one of his nine attempts from beyond the arc this preseason, due in part to Detroit's lack of spacing. To put it simply, there are very few shooters moving the defensive line, meaning it's difficult for anyone to get a clean look.

Honestly, this will likely be another difficult year for the Pistons, even with the newfound draft talent they have. As good as Holland is at certain things, he is not a floor covering player, at least at this moment. Jaden Ivey shot unusually well from three goals in Detroit's four preseason games, but differently Wendell Moore Jr.who has shot well on limited attempts, no one else is a particularly consistent shooter from distance.

The acquisition of Tim Hardaway Jr. It was done to address this issue in some ways, but he only hit 35.3% of his threes last year, which was below the 2023-24 NBA average of 36.6%. The fans are so excited about the possible wing duo from Holland Ausar Thompsonwho is struggling with health issues, Detroit could also go with the top pick in the 2025 NBA Draft.

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