The Detroit Pistons responded in Game 2, tying the series 1-1 against the Orlando Magic. But even in a win, the offensive issues were hard to ignore. Through two games, Detroit has struggled to generate consistent spacing and secondary scoring around star point guard Cade Cunningham, and that has fans calling for a lineup adjustment heading into Game 3.
The spotlight has quickly shifted to veteran sharpshooter, Duncan Robinson, the offseason addition brought in to solve these exact problems. Instead, his early playoff performance has raised more questions than answers.
Robinson Has One Job and He Isn’t Doing It Well
Robinson was signed to be Detroit’s shooting specialist. His role was simple: stretch the floor, knock down threes, and ease the burden on Cunningham. Through two games, that impact has been inconsistent at best.
Game 1 summed up the issue. Robinson finished with nine points and hit three triples, but he only took eight shots. For a player whose value is tied almost entirely to volume shooting, that lack of aggression becomes a problem. Detroit needed spacing, and Robinson didn’t demand enough defensive attention to consistently create it.
Game 2 wasn’t much better as Robinson finished with ten points while shooting 3-of-8 from beyond the arc. The box score may say that Robinson was a +25 on the floor, but that had much more to do with how effective the Pistons were on defense, holding the Magic to a season-low 83 points.
Speaking of defense, that side of the floor may be an even more glaring issue for Robinson. On the other end, the issues are more glaring. Orlando has targeted Robinson defensively, forcing Detroit into uncomfortable decisions late in games. When a player can’t stay on the floor in key moments, it limits everything a coaching staff can do schematically.
Javonte Green Emerging as an X Factor
While Robinson has struggled to find his footing, Javonte Green has quietly done the opposite.
Green has made the most of limited minutes, bringing energy, defense, and timely scoring. His regular-season consistency carried over, as he played in all 82 games and set career highs across the board, including 94 made threes and 102 steals.
More importantly, his skill set fits the tone of this series. Green defends at a high level, cuts well off the ball, and adds athleticism as a lob threat. In a matchup defined by physicality, those traits matter.
Sliding Green into the starting lineup would not just be a reaction to Robinson’s struggles. It would give Detroit more balance. It also allows Robinson to shift into a bench role where his shooting can be more situational, similar to how he was used during his time in Miami. That adjustment could address two problems at once: improving the starting unit’s defense while boosting bench scoring.
Same Old Duncan Robinson Could Cost the Pistons
Unfortunately for the Detroit Pistons this situation feels familiar. With the Miami Heat, Robinson’s impact often came down to one thing: whether he was making shots. When he wasn’t, his defensive limitations became too difficult to hide. Through two games, that same pattern is starting to show in Detroit.
If Robinson isn’t spacing the floor at a high level, he becomes a liability in a series where every possession is contested. Against a physical Orlando team, there is little margin for error. Both teams are grinding for points, and weak links get exposed quickly.
Robinson’s role made sense on paper for a series like this. But the reality has been different. The Magic’s defensive pressure has disrupted his rhythm, and Detroit hasn’t been able to counter effectively.
Bickerstaff now faces a decision. Stick with the original plan, or adjust to match the intensity of the series. After Game 2, the Pistons have momentum heading on the road to the Kia Center for Game 3. The question is whether they’re willing to make a tough call to keep it.
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