Ron Holland II starts at power forward for the Pistons in Thursday's preseason game against the Bucks. With Tobias Harris sidelined, Holland took over at the four spot and looked comfortable on both ends of the floor. This could be a preview of his eventual integration into the team's long-term plans.
Ron Holland: Power forward of the future?
Holland had a dynamic rookie season last season and showed strong potential as a slasher and downhill scorer. Offensively, he effectively plays the role of power forward as he is good at attacking the rim but inefficient shooting from outside. But defensively, he lacks the size and strength to defend opposing power forwards.
Holland looks to have improved a lot this season in many areas. His offensive ability has been significantly improved on his shooting jump, and now he has become a real inside threat. In this game, he confidently knocked down three three-pointers and made one after a pick-and-roll with Cade Cunningham. Holland adds a more reliable three-point shooting, making him more effective as a power forward.
There are other, more subtle areas of growth for Holland's offense. He once ran a pick-and-roll and kicked the ball to a teammate in the corner for a three-pointer. This newfound ability to handle the ball and playmaking makes Holland more versatile and allows J.B. Bickerstaff to deploy him in different roles.
But arguably Holland's biggest area of growth is his defensive prowess. Playing against a veteran interior scorer in Bobby Portis, Holland kept his offense down low. Portis struggled to hit his signature face-up jump shot or hook shot when Holland was on guard.
Holland was even better than sophomore Bobi Klintman, who is taller and heavier than Holland. But Holland has grown in strength over the offseason, especially with intentional size and speed, giving him the upper hand defensively.
Holland is expected to share the floor with Osar Thompson on a regular basis, making for an intriguing defensive duo. As exciting as it would be to have two flying around the floor and forcing turnovers, one of them may still need to guard the power forward in the paint. Despite Osar's athleticism, at just 6-foot-6, he's too small to guard the league's most injured power forward. This is where Holland's added bulk becomes so important.
If Holland can actually defend the power forward consistently, it would be huge news for the Pistons' depth chart. One of the shallowest positions on the team is power forward, with only starter Tobias Harris playing meaningful minutes in the NBA. But Holland's emergence as a backup could give Harris more breathing room and lay the foundation for the Pistons' future starting lineup.