Tim Hardaway Jr. Stepped Up Right In Time For Detroit Pistons
When Cade Cunningham was ruled out on March 23rd for the Detroit Pistons' game against the New Orleans Pelicans, most did not think it was a cause for concern. Many believed the Pistons were getting their star some rest against a team they didn’t need him against to win.
Cunningham would miss six consecutive games for the Pistons, who were in the middle of a tight playoff race in the Eastern Conference. These games feature opponents such as the Cleveland Cavaliers, Minnesota Timberwolves, and Oklahoma City Thunder.
If the Pistons were to stay in the hunt for the fourth seed and maintain their lead on the fifth seed, Detroit would need someone to step up in Cunningham’s absence.
Enter Tim Hardaway Jr.
Hardaway Jr. had been a reliable veteran for Detroit all season long, playing in 72 of the Pistons’ 77 games. The Michigan alumn had made a living this season, feasting on Cunningham’s gravity and playmaking, resulting in more effortless looks and sustainable play.
Hardaway Jr. is shooting 37.4 percent from deep on 5.9 attempts this year—a 2.1 percent increase over his last season with the Dallas Mavericks. Hardaway Jr’s 57.4 true shooting percentage is the vet’s best efficiency since the 2020-21 season.
Despite drawing some ire from fans for overconfidence on some shot selections, Hardaway Jr. had mainly been exactly what Detroit was expecting this season.
With Cunningham out, Hardaway Jr. decided to take his game to another level for Detroit.
Over the last five games, Hardaway Jr. has averaged 22.0 points per game while shooting 52.2 percent from the field, 51.2 percent from deep on 8.2 attempts, and 95.0 percent from the free throw line on 4.0 attempts. This included scoring 32 points and hitting seven threes in a massive upset win for Detroit over the number one-seeded Cleveland Cavaliers.
Hardaway Jr. had primarily been used as a spot-up shooter this season. According to NBArapm, Hardaway Jr.'s most-used play type is spot-ups with 238 possessions. He’s been one of the best spot-up shooters in the league, scoring 1.25 points per possession and ranking in the 93rd percentile.
And over this stretch, Hardaway Jr. maintained, and probably even elevated, that level of shooting.
Take, for example, this shot against the Cavaliers. Cavalier defender Dean Wade digs just the slightest down on the Isaiah Stewart roll, which opens up the wing pass to Hardaway Jr.
Wade recovers quickly and closes the gap, but Hardaway Jr. launches five feet from beyond the three-point line, with a contest, and splashes the shot—an absurd level of shot-making ability.
Hardaway Jr. always can go crazy hot during games and hit absurd catch-and-shoot threes like the one above. However, his shot creation off the catch and his ability to draw free throws elevated him during this stretch.
On the season, Hardaway Jr. is shooting just under 49 percent of all two-pointers and is getting to the free throw line just 1.9 times per game. During the last five games, Hardaway Jr. has upped those numbers to nearly 54 percent on two-pointers and reached the free throw line 4.0 times per game.
The seasoned vet is such a threat on the catch because of a quick trigger and the ability to make shots with just a sliver of space, which often has defenders closing out recklessly, opening up the option to drive and get into the lane.
As you’ll see above, Malik Beasley makes the kick-out to Hardaway Jr. on the right wing after an offensive rebound. Isaac Okoro realizes it’s Hardaway Jr. and makes a reckless closeout to take away the potential three-point attempt. Hardaway Jr. takes perfect advantage of this, using a quick shot fake to blow by the defender.
With a rotating Evan Mobley stuck between two offensive players, Hardaway Jr. utilizes a nice low-pickup point rip-through to get to the basket and finish over Jarrett Allen's stretched-out arms.
The play of Hardaway Jr., while the Pistons' best player was out, is another example of why Detroit is having the season they are having. Improvement from the young core, but the stabilization of key veterans has smoothed out this season.
Hardaway Jr. has his ups and downs, but he kept the Detroit Pistons afloat in Cunningham’s absence.
The Detroit Pistons clinched a top-6 seed in their Friday night win against the Toronto Raptors.
That wouldn’t have happened without Tim Hardaway Jr.
Nice article KU! I've been defending THJ against guys who don't really know ball.