I think they'll make the playoffs if those 4 can stay healthy. With Billups running the show, I think they'll at least make it to the second round in the east.
I thought someone may make this thread. Drummond 8-11 FG and 5-7 FTs for 21pts and 10reb in 26min. He and Bosh can't stop each other. And Josh Smith only taking 5 shots and 2-3 on 3pt shots? Monroe not hitting shots but getting lots of FTs. This is a team that could do with a stretch PF instead of Greg Monroe. Josh Smith is plenty good enough as a rebounder and part-time post player and defender of PFs. My dream trade scenario is to facilitate the Pistons getting LaMarcus Aldridge, while we pry away Greg Monroe, and give Portland Asik and one of Jones/DMo. Many will blast me for not wanting LaMarcus Aldridge but don't want him with back issues, and turning 30 looking for a new max contract at the end of next season. Rather try Monroe which can play Center, but also some PF (as opposed to Asik) from the high post, is a very good passer, team player and has a developing mid-range shot. Development trajectory in terms of shooting in some ways similar to Aldridge. Younger, perhaps more affordable, and more worthy of a new near max contract in two years due to his age and hitting his peak in his next contract. Starts at PF, plays 22 min there, and plays 14 min as backup center behind Dwight. Solves both PF and back-up center position by one person. Will Portland trade LaMarcus? I bet they will not extend him for a max after end of next season at 30 if they're not contending (and they probably won't be), so they will. Will the Pistons trades Monroe? Not likely, but if there's one PF that helps them contend right now, is LaMarcus Aldridge. Drummond inside, LaMarcus mid-range to newly developed 3pt shot, and Josh Smith either inside or outside. Gives them better spacing, and it's a bit hard to play a rookie and a third year player in the front court together, not experienced enough to contend. The Rockets? Great solution for Asik. Get back someone that can play both C and PF, and potentially work the twin-tower lineup better than Howard and Asik. Monroe not the defender Asik is, but much better two-way player.
I think Stuckey just injured his thumb with a car door and is going to get surgery pretty soon haha. Regardless, Pistons will be really fun to watch.
Spacing would be very bad on offense. Only Jennings can shoot 3 points with any consistency. Defensive it's a pretty intriguing for sure. Drummond + JSmoove. Stats today kind of bear it out, although it is just one game. 8 blocks and 4-16 on 3pt shots. And ... wait for it ... outrebound the Heat by 49 to 25, yes, almost double!!!
No chance. It's as if Carroll Dawson put that team together. They're gonna spend years trying to deconstruct everything and rebuild properly around Drummond, assuming he's even that good.
2nd round? They have absolutely no shooting and unless they plan on bringing Drummond off the bench, josh smith is not a 3
josh smith has improved his stroke though, good three point percentage in the first two games. but it's preseason
in 2 years yes. a lineup of Jennings, KCP, Smoove, Monroe, Drummond can be a very strong team in 2 years. But they will have to get a coach that can set up a system like the one in Memphis with defense and rebounding being their priority. They're also gonna have to strenghten their bench with 3 point shooters. But for this year if they face off in the first round it will get interesting. Who's gonna guard Drummond, Haslem? LOLs
Drummond is a beast. But if Morey would have been able to trade up to get him we would never have Harden or Dwight right now.
True, but back issues before already. Plus you'd like to get someone young to pair with Howard, not someone same age. Or the Rockets would age pretty quickly up front and have two back-injury-history max contract players in a couple of years. From Grantland on Detroit ---------------------------- Detroit Pistons Joe Dumars won't call this a playoffs-or-bust season, so I will: It's a playoffs-or-bust season for Detroit, especially given the ripple effects of Okafor's injury and the general unpredictability of the rest of the morass. The challenge: Detroit cannot afford to fall behind after starting 4-20 in 2011-12 and 0-8 last season, and that means Maurice Cheeks has to work out a lot of dicey rotation questions quickly. Detroit will start the fascinating Josh Smith–Greg Monroe–Andre Drummond ultra-big trio, with an often inefficient point guard in Brandon Jennings orchestrating on what will be a very, very cramped floor. The last starting spot is up for grabs, and if Cheeks gives it to Rodney Stuckey, a non-shooter, Detroit's offense could crater. All three of Chauncey Billups, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Kyle Singler would be better options, and though Gigi Datome lacks the foot speed to play the position, Cheeks has to find minutes for him. Datome is a deadeye shooter on the wing who should also be able to play some small-ball power forward — perhaps rendering Jonas Jerebko expendable. Cheeks has to learn a lot of stuff, and quickly — the right balance between lineup types; the best wing combinations; whether the league will let him implant an electric shock device he can activate whenever Smith rises for a 20-footer; and how well the Monroe-Drummond frontcourt can work defensively. Detroit is another candidate for a "win now" trade, though it's tough to find any appealing bait if it doesn't dangle Monroe — perhaps expendable now, with Smith aboard and Monroe's agent, David Falk, almost certainly demanding a max contract.3 ------------------------
