The Pistons won't be able to get to the next level if their starting small forward for the 2015-2016 season is still Kyle Singler. In today's NBA, the 3-spot is a crucial position and often what teams build around. Just look at players like LeBron James, Paul George, Carmelo Anthony, and Paul Pierce (while in Boston). If they aren't world class scorers like those guys, they have to be lock down defenders such as Tayshaun Prince was in his prime, or Kawhi Leonard, last year's Finals MVP. A player who hits a couple threes per game and maybe a nice drive to the hoop here and there isn't what you want at the starting small forward. Yet, Stan Van Gundy and the Pistons seem content to continue starting him.
Singler isn't a bad player, but it's hard to push him anywhere above the average level. Let's break down some of the numbers first. Basically, this season, Singler has had a few outstanding games and many average ones. He has made 68 three-pointers this season and attempted 163, which is pretty alright. However, if you take out some outliers, as in the three games he shot lights out, the numbers get interesting. Against the Magic, 76ers, and Grizzlies, he hit a combined 15 three-pointers on 20 attempts. Two of those games were against weaker teams and in the game against Memphis, the Pistons ended up losing after crumbling in the final minutes. If we take those three games out of his season totals, than he has made 53 of 143 attempts, good for a three-point percentage of 37 percent. So basically, he comes out and hits one or two (his average is 1.5) deep balls a game. That is great, for a role player. A starter, however, has to do more, and Singler does not.
Aside from that same Memphis game in November, Singler has never attempted more than two free-throws this season, so it's clear he isn't attacking the rim very much. Whether it's the eye-ball test or the stat sheet evaluation, Singler's defense isn't up to par, as he is often outmatched in one-on-one situations and late-to-react on help defensive sequences. For someone with size (about 6'8"), he is only averaging 2.6 rebounds per game. His percentage on two-point shots, despite his fluky 41 percent from deep, is just 39 percent. Compared to other shooters in the NBA, that's pretty mediocre. Courtney Lee, Klay Thompson, J.J Reddick, and Brandon Knight all shoot at a clip of 45 percent or higher from inside the arc.
Clearly, the numbers from this season, which is just over halfway through, support the idea that Singler isn't helping this team very much. Although Smith was the biggest culprit, the team's inability to hit shots earlier this season stemmed from his poor outside shooting. During the Pistons' 13-game losing streak, Singler had seven games where he shot 33 percent or worse from three-point range. So while the Pistons recent winning ways made Smith out to be the lone scapegoat, perhaps that view has changed now that Jennings is hurt.
Just watching the team, it's clear to see he looks lost on defense and is often hesitant on offense. When he can shoot in stride and doesn't have to think about it, he shoots it at well above 40 percent. But it's the wide-open, momentum altering three-pointers that Singler misses far too often. Now, he isn't alone in that regard, as players such as Jodie Meeks and KCP miss plenty of open deep-balls, but Singler seems to do it the most. He also gets too cute when given space, trying to knife his way through the defense while lacking significant burst or speed. He commits clumsy turnovers and makes poor decisions when given the opportunity to create his own shot.
Defensively, he doesn't quite grasp SVG's system. His rotations, more often than not, are slow and can throw off the entire scheme. In their last game against the Cavaliers, he simply got out-hustled after Kyrie Irving missed a fast-break layup. On the rebound, even though he had good position, a Cleveland player swooped in and grabbed the ball, which turned into an easy layup. The Pistons had players up the floor and if Singler would have gotten the board, it could have been a layup on the other end. Instead, it was a four-point swing in what ended up being an eight-point game, and that doesn't fly.
If the Pistons want to return in 2015 with a healthy Jennings and happy Monroe, they need to boost their small forward spot. They clearly have strong big men in Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond, good ball handlers in Spencer Dinwiddie, Jennings, and D.J. Augustin, and good scorers with Caron Butler, KCP, and Jodie Meeks. However, they should be looking to draft a franchise kind of player at the 3 position. The best options seem to be Arizona's Stanley Johnson and Kentucky's Alex Poythress, guys who are versatile and can use their size better than Singler.
The Pistons clearly have plenty of shooters, and he could very well find a home elsewhere in the NBA. But right now, he just isn't good for a team that is re-shaping their identity, and their culture in Detroit.