With his outside shot, Ausar Thompson takes a step forward in the attack
Apathetic, the Bucks defense offered him a full invitation to shoot 3-pointers. But Ausar Thompson hesitated for a moment and decided to dribble to get closer. And seeing that Myles Turner and the others weren’t too worried, he sent a short shot three meters from the baseline.
Against the Bucks last nightthe Pistons winger recorded several such finishes and finished with 13 points (6/7 shooting), 8 assists and 6 rebounds. Seeing him convert these little shots on the perimeter isn’t all that common for him, who also barely shoots threes (5/16 on the season after 20 games).
This season, he already had more mid-range shots than last season, but with a lower percentage (4/14 compared to 4/12 last year). But the most notable is undoubtedly his use of shooting in the paint outside the “restricted zone” (closest to the circle): 44% this season (26/59) compared to 35% (41/117) a year ago.
It’s the offensive chord that seems to unlock him, even though he’s better known for his “slasher” qualities, like his Houston brother, Amen.
Lots of summer work
« That changes a lot of things for him, because with shooting it’s simple: go in or not. When he raises the shot like that, the defense can’t do anything. It’s just a matter of whether he puts it on or misses it », notes his trainer JB Bickerstaff.
The latter believes that it is in his interest to multiply these attacks due to his athletic qualities. ” It’s not like other shots that can be contested or that he has to modify, because he’s so strong to get to that area, and obviously he can reach heights that others can’t reach to make a clean shot for himself. », rightly observes the coach.
The technician eventually reports that his player “has worked a lot (on this aspect). He started working on it this summer, and it’s something we really wanted him to continue to do more of. » Opposing defenses are undoubtedly less enthusiastic.
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| Ausar Thompson | Percentage | Rebounds | |||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Saison | The team | MJ | Min | Shots | 3pts | LF | Off | Def | That | Pd | Ft | Int | Bp | Ct | Pts |
| 2023-24 | THE | 63 | 25:08 | 48.3 | 18.6 | 59.7 | 2.0 | 4.3 | 6.4 | 1.9 | 2.8 | 1.1 | 1.3 | 0.9 | 8.8 |
| 2024-25 | THE | 59 | 22:31 | 53.5 | 22.4 | 64.1 | 1.9 | 3.3 | 5.1 | 2.3 | 2.8 | 1.7 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 10.1 |
| 2025-26 | THE | 19 | 28:00 | 50.5 | 31.3 | 55.7 | 1.9 | 4.0 | 5.9 | 2.8 | 2.9 | 1.5 | 1.4 | 0.7 | 11.7 |
How to read statistics? MJ = matches played; Min = Minute; Shots = Shots Successful / Shots Attempted; 3 points = 3 points / attempt 3 points; LF = free throws made / free throws attempted; Off = offensive rebound; Def=defensive jump; Tot = Total number of jumps; Pd = assists; Fte: Personal mistakes; Int = intercepts; Bp = lost balls; Ct: Against; Points = Points.
2025-12-07 15:20:00
