Hunter Patterson of The Athletic points out that on the defensive side, the Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff had previously expressed interest in trying out some zone schemes because of the roster’s length and athleticism.
“We have found some zones that we like. It comes down to the time to implement the zones so you can get good at them,” Bickerstaff said last week, hinting that the coaching staff wants to put in the necessary reps to make those looks effective.
That concept showed up during Thursday’s matchup with the Milwaukee Bucks, where Detroit shifted between traditional man-to-man coverage and a 1-3-1 zone alignment.
Patterson notes that Milwaukee didn’t seem bothered by the change in defensive looks, continuing to execute their offense without much disruption.
It’s unclear whether this is simply part of preseason testing or if Bickerstaff intends to refine this zone approach into a regular-season tactic to throw off opposing offenses.
Ausar Thompson has been given expanded ball-handling duties, plus more on the Pistons. https://t.co/9XyKjMpU8R
— Hoops Rumors (@HoopsRumors) October 13, 2025
