It is that time of the year again. Time to hang up the cleats and mitts and get ready for Detroit’s favorite hoops team. We, of course, are talking about the Detroit Pistons. Before the season tips off on Wednesday with a matchup with the Houston Rockets, The Detroit Sports Site team previews the season.
1. While some of us—read Andrew Tomlinson—wanted the Pistons to draft a superstar, they opted to take 6’10” power-forward Andre Drummond. What is his realistic ceiling this year in terms of production and value given his strong exhibition season where he is averaging over nine-points and five-rebounds per game?
Chris Burke - I loved the pick of Drummond and still do. It’s not that easy to find superstars like Kobe or LeBron — and the Pistons don’t have one — so build from the trenches, so to speak, and win with defense and rebounding. That preseason line is about what I expect from Drummond.
Max Demara - Like Chris, I had no problem with the Drummond pick. He’s shown well in the preseason and looks like he can develop into a more than serviceable big man. There wasn’t a “can’t miss” superstar in the 2012 draft, so scooping him up was fine. He’s young so he may hit a few walls, but expecting 10-points and 6-rebounds isn’t a stretch.
Andrew Tomlinson - While it was not the pick I wanted, Drummond has shown he can be a force in the exhibition season and is looking like a player who could really excel in a defensive system like the one the Pistons are most likely going to run this season. It was a safe pick, but he is looking like he really can help this young Detroit squad.
2. Perhaps the least talked about Piston heading into the season is Kyle Singler. The 24-year old small forward from Duke opted to play in Spain last year, but is back with the Pistons this year. Will he be a key part of the Pistons this coming season, or will he be nothing more than a role player?
CB - Singler’s a role player, but he should see some time. For whatever reason, the Pistons seem committed to playing Jonas Jerebko as a power forward, so Singler should be in the mix at the 3 spot. He can’t be worse than Austin Daye.
MD - Since his time at Duke, I’ve always liked Singler. I think he can be a valuable role player, and I think his time overseas will help him this season. I don’t know that he’ll be any more than a role player initially, but with more starting time, he could develop into one.
AT - I will not lie, I sort of totally forgot Singler even really existed, but when he reentered the picture after his year in Spain, I got incredibly excited. He may start the season as a role player, but my bet is he becomes a regular in the Pistons starting five and game plan.
3. Who is a player currently not in the starting rotation of the Pistons (Jerekbo, Monroe, Prince, Stuckey, Knight, Maxiell) who will be there at the end the of the season and who will move out?
CB - If we assume Jerebko and Maxiell will battle for one spot again, the only real option for an answer here is Prince, if Detroit trades him. Then, either Jerebko or a guy like Corey Maggette can play SF. Otherwise, Knight-Stuckey-Prince-Maxiell-Monroe is your starting five for the next 82 games.
MD - I don’t think the starting rotation will change. I haven’t been a fan of Stuckey since he was drafted so I’m always looking for someone to supplant him, but he’s Dumars’ guy and will stick around. I think barring a trade of Prince (which at this point, will probably never happen) you can bank on that being your starting five all year.
AT - The Pistons have rarely kept their starting five intact through a full season and I highly doubt that will happen again this year. While you bank on Knight, Monroe and Stuckey being there all year, I have a sneaky suspicion Drummond will find his way into the starting lineup before the year is done.
4. Will Joe Dumars field a team competitive enough for him to keep his job, what does that team have to do?
CB - If Joe D. hasn’t been let go yet, I find it hard to believe the Pistons would make that move now, with a faint light at the end of the tunnel. So long as this team doesn’t go, like, 20-62, he’s fine.
MD - Joe Dumars will always keep his job in Detroit. I’ve learned not to question that until I actually see it happen, so until the move happens, regardless of the team he fields, expect him to keep his job.
AT - Its clear ownership thinks Dumars has what it takes to make another championship run and this far into the rebuild, I cannot see them letting Dumars go before he at least gets a chance to see his plan through to completion.
5. What will be the Pistons’ final record and where will they finish in the Eastern Conference?
CB - I’ll say they finish at about 37-45, which should keep them in the playoff race. Ultimately, they’ll wind up a couple games short and land 10th in the East.
MD - 40-42, which will end up being a bit of an overachievement for this team. In the Eastern Conference, it might be enough to sneak into the playoffs. We’ll say this gets them to 9th place and just an eyelash short, though.
AT - I’m going to go a a little bullish on the Pistons and say they finish 41-41, mainly because the power in the NBA lies in the Western Conference with the exception of the Miami Heat and Chicago Bulls. Detroit plays exciting basketball, but falls short of a playoff spot at ninth in the conference.