Detroit — For the Detroit Pistons to make a deep playoff run, they will need to rely significantly on their bench unit.
Known as the “Bench Mob,” this group enters the postseason as one of the most productive reserve units in the league, ranking 11th in scoring at 41.3 points per game during the regular season.
The Pistons need to find a way to sustain their bench production, with Ron Holland II among the primary contributors.
Holland made notable improvements during his second season, finishing with an average of 8.2 points per game, 4.0 rebounds, and 1.2 steals in 20.0 minutes played. With a total of 92 steals, he was one of four Pistons players to rank in the top 30 for total steals. He joined Ausar Thompson (146), Javonte Green (102) and Cade Cunningham (92).
“I love where we are at as a team. I feel like there is no team in the NBA who is more connected than us right now,” Holland said. “We have been like that all season, and these playoffs are going to be fun. We cannot wait.”
As the Pistons open their first-round series against the Orlando Magic on Sunday, Holland feels confident on a personal level as he enters the playoffs for the second time in his career. His belief is similar to how he felt as a rookie last year; however, Holland experienced a major decline in his playing time when compared to the regular season.
Holland averaged 15.6 minutes per game as a rookie, quickly establishing a significant role in coach J.B. Bickerstaff’s rotation. However, during the Pistons’ six-game playoff series against the New York Knicks, he played just 34 minutes, averaging 5.5 minutes per game.
Rather than complaining about his position, Holland used the time to study playoff basketball from a distance. A year later, he is leaning on the lessons he learned from last year’s postseason, hoping to play a larger role against the Magic.
“The biggest takeaway I learned was the physicality, and that every single possession is more important than you think,” Holland said. “You have to take the importance of every possession, every single second of the shot clock, you have to stay focused the entire time.”
Energy and hustle have defined Holland’s impact with the Pistons since he was selected as a lottery pick in the 2024 NBA Draft. These qualities have played a significant role in several games, contributing to the team’s 60-win season. He recovered 37 loose balls and ranked third on the team for deflections with 165.
“I love watching Ron on and off the court; just his work ethic,” Bickerstaff said. “There are not many guys that are in the gym working as hard as Ron is working on his game, his want to get better, his commitment to this team, his willingness to sacrifice for this team.”
Bickerstaff continued, “But then on court, he’s understanding where his spots come and how he can be even more impactful on both ends of the floor where his strengths lie. And then he understands the moment too. We’ve seen our team not have the energy or be on the downswing, and then we put Ron in the game, and he comes in with that energy to be instantly impactful. That means a lot to us.”
Holland has proven to be a player who is willing to do the dirty work while also showcasing his offensive talents. He closed the regular season with arguably his best stretch when it comes to shooting the ball. During the final nine games, Holland shot 44.4% on 3-point shooting with 12 made triples.
His improved shooting at the end of the season is a testament to his “Mamba Mentality,” in which he is not afraid to take shots. It also reflects the nearly two years of hard work he has put in alongside Pistons assistant coach and shooting specialist, Fred Vinson.
“He has been really helpful,” Holland said. “The one thing that he is always telling me is to stay confident. There will always be ups and downs throughout the year. I have the confidence. Now, it is all about building the right habits, and everything will start to fall.”
The Pistons and Magic split their four-game regular-season series at 2-2. Holland played in all four games, averaging 6.5 points while shooting 43.5% from the field and recording 1.3 steals per game.
He acknowledged there were moments when he could have performed better against Orlando. However, after a week of addressing some team weaknesses, Holland believes he is in a better position to make a greater impact. He believes he possesses all the intangibles needed to help the Pistons play well into June.
“The Magic have a really good team. They are deep and play physical just like us, but we are just going to go out there and hoop,” Holland said. “Whether we won two or lost two, we have put the regular season against them behind us. Now, it is only about these next few games.”
coty.davis@detroitnews.com
@cotydavis_24
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Detroit Pistons’ Ron Holland II applying lessons learned for playoffs
Reporting by Coty M. Davis, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
