Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Brandon Knight‘s performance in the final game of the season for the Detroit Pistons shows that while they aren’t too far from being a good team, it won’t be until their standouts mature into consistent and steady players that they’ll be playoff contenders.
Knight had a good sophomore season and he definitely has improved from his first year.
But the Pistons lost 103-99 at the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday. Knight was 3-of-14 from the floor. If he hits a few more shots, perhaps the Pistons win.
He was 0-of-3 in 3-point tries. The Pistons were 1-of-13 behind the arc as a team. That obviously hurts. Knight did dish out five assists.
Some will look at Knight’s stats from his NBA rookie season and be inclined to think he hasn’t shown much improvement. Last season, he averaged 32.3 minutes, 12.8 points, 3.2 rebounds and 3.8 assists per game while shooting 41.5 percent from the floor. This year, he was at 31.5 minutes, 13.3 points, 3.3 rebounds and 4.0 assists per game. He shot 40.7 percent from the floor.
So, his stats indicate Knight’s about the same this season from last. But this year, he seems to be more comfortable and confident in what he’s doing. His consistency, however, still isn’t there. He needs for his numbers to go up and if they do, that could make a difference, just in Knight’s case, of winning six to eight more ballgames.
A lot will depend on who’s coaching the Pistons next season and how Knight reacts to the teammates that surround him. He has a bright future. But it’s all in his hands.
