Killian Hayes replacing… to have more control of the ball | NBA

After a very complicated first season in the NBA, we cannot say that Killian Hayes is exploding this year with Detroit. His averages are even a little lower and his skill percentages (34% shooting including 29% from a distance) are still problematic. Above all, his duet with Cade Cunningham does not really work.

At the start of the campaign, Dwane Casey had left the keys to the attack to the French, but the n°1 of the last Draft was not really comfortable in this rear position. The roles were therefore reversed, which helped Cade Cunningham … and even further limited the impact of Killian Hayes, who seemed lost without the ball.

Since his last injury, the former Cholet is now a substitute. Not enough to revolutionize its impact, but “experience” should allow Killian Hayes to regain control of the ball.

“We talked about it with Coach (Casey). I will have more control of the ball with the substitutes.”, explains the Frenchman to the Detroit News. “I’m just going to try to bring energy, be vocal when the substitutes come in and, when I’m playing with Cade, help him as a point guard. “

His complementarity with Cade Cunningham is now the big question mark for Killian Hayes, while it is Cory Joseph who now shares the backcourt with the Pistons rookie.

What complementarity with Cade Cunningham?

“You know, Cade is a great player,” continues the sophomore. “Offensively, he can do anything. Me, I’m just trying to help the team. Me and Cory, we lead the team, we control the tempo, we talk. We help it shine. “

After having kept him in the five for a long time, Dwane Casey knows that this change is seen as an admission that the Cunningham / Hayes duo does not work. The coach therefore tries to circumvent these doubts, explaining that this new strategy helps the Frenchman in his development, by giving him the ball back to make choices.

“Killian has only played 23 more games than Cade, and he made the transition from Europe. That’s a lot for a young man.”tempers the coach. “But we are patient and we will continue to work with him. He is tall, strong and his address will come. I have complete confidence that it will come. “

Dwane Casey also still appreciates the defensive versatility of the former Choletais but, in attack, the Cunningham / Hayes duo is therefore for the moment put on “stand-by”.

“He’s a big kid who can defend against big backs and wingers. It allows us to play a little with three backs. I like the way he plays now (as a substitute). He is comfortable. Defensively he is still good. So we’re going to see this rotation and continue to experiment in this way. “