Detroit has a look that’s reminiscent of Stan Van Gundy’s old Orlando bunch.
Key Additions
Draft: Stanley Johnson
Trade: Ersan Ilyasova, Marcus Morris, Danny Granger, Steve Blake
Free Agency: Aron Baynes
Key Departures
Free Agency: Greg Monroe
Trade: Caron Butler
2015-16 Outlook
Pistons’ head coach/GM Stan Van Gundy has molded this Pistons team from close to scratch. And minus the years of championship contention, this squad boasts striking similarities to the Orlando Magic group that fell a few games short of a title less than a decade ago under his guidance.
First you have Andre Drummond, a young, physically imposing center with an awkward post game and embarrassing free-throw percentage. For the love of God, will someone introduce this guy to Rick Barry or Jackie Moon?
While Dwight Howard made serious strides in between ages 19, 20, 21, and 22, Drummond seemed poised for a breakout in 2014-15 after a solid sophomore season. However, his performance fizzled, forcing SVG to bench him on numerous nights.
It may be unlikely that Drummond ever reaches the same level we once saw from Howard, but this is the year we finally find out whether he belongs in the same conversation as today’s best centers.
Why, you ask? There will be no excuses anymore. He’ll finally be freed from sharing the paint with former Georgetown Hoya Greg Monroe, as Ersan Ilysasova provides a lesser version of former Magic forward Rashard Lewis and current New Orleans Pelicans’ flamethrower Ryan Anderson, both of whom spent a great deal of time alongside Howard in Florida at different times. All three are defensive liabilities that shoot the lights out from beyond, though Rashard and Ryno have been more versatile scorers than Ersan.
However, Ilyasova won’t be asked to create his own shot often, and will likely prove a much friendlier fit alongside Drummond offensively than Monroe did. Marcus Morris will likely challenge Ilyasova for minutes at the four, as he too provides enough spacing to allow Drummond breathing room down low.
Next there’s Reggie Jackson, who will continue to run the pick and roll with Drummond at an almost unfathomable rate. It’s debatable whether Jackson can develop a reliable three-pointer or is as steady and heady as former Magic point guard Jameer Nelson, but there’s no denying R-Jax has fire and talent.
Finally, Jodie Meeks makes for a decent J.J. Redick-clone as an off-ball specialist with his cannon always locked and loaded.
Stanley Johnson and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope serve as the stark differences—two athletic young swingmen who, despite their occasional offensive outbursts, are probably still most comfortable on defense. Johnson has looked phenomenal in Summer League and preseason, and I’d love to see him start at small forward alongside KCP, who has been highly inconsistent during his two years as a pro.
Hedo Turkoglu was the go-to-guy at times for the Magic while providing little on defense. Meanwhile, Courtney Lee and Mickael Pietrus provided decent D, but that figures to be the calling card for the duo of Johnson and Pope.
SVG’s second squeeze has a lot in common with his first. Only time will tell whether he’ll be able to harness respectable results, but the Pistons’ puzzle looks infinitely clearer than it did less than a year ago when Drummond, Monroe, and Josh Smith were playing some of the least watchable basketball in the shot-clock era.
In the improved Eastern Conference, it might be tough for the Pistons to make the leap from the lottery to the playoffs, but along with every other Eastern team not named the 76ers, Detroit has a legitimate chance to reach the postseason.
Projected Record: 37-45
Add The Sports Daily to your Google News Feed!
