OT - DEEEE-troit Basketball
Boy I like the looks of this Pistons team. If you have not been paying attention, and really as of right now there has not been any real decisive reason to do so, the Pistons have clipped the Heat on the road, handed Indiana its first home loss, and came back from 23 last night in the Gaaaden to take down the Celtics in a (if they started today) playoff preview of sorts. Brandon Jennings is showing early signs of being Mr. Bigshot 2.0, going nuts for 28 point and 14 assists last night and has hit cold blooded dagger 3s in the last two games. Jennings is also high pick-and-rolling people to death with Drummond and Monroe, with the former dunking on everybody who is even giving him a sideways glance. OK, 13-14, I get it, they are not the 97 Bulls, but their schedule has been pretty brutal including a heartbreaker against Portland on Sunday.
There are also moves to be made with this roster. The Pistons could be the next big thing in the East here if they manage their assets well. Stuckey has an expiring contract but has also been playing pretty well this season, Mornoe is effective, but with Smith on a longish term deal and Drummond as the real must-keep peice of the front court, could Monroe be the odd man out here by the end of the year? Our foreign cartel has been pretty much relegated to spectators and it does not look like Cheeks plans on sending them on many trips to the scorers table any time soon, what to make of them?
I intend this as legit Pistons discussion and I know that most of you have likely forgot there is still a basketball team in Detroit. So perhaps engage only if interested. I like this team. I really think it could take shape. Anybody else picked up the Pistons out of the mothballs and dusted them off? What do you think?
December 19th, 2013 at 11:58 AM ^
December 19th, 2013 at 12:12 PM ^
December 19th, 2013 at 12:23 PM ^
This is Jennings' 5th year, and Smith's 9th.
December 19th, 2013 at 1:57 PM ^
Smith is the one player to whom I was referring as having more than four years of nba experience.
December 19th, 2013 at 12:44 PM ^
They are insanly young and talented, plus 13-14 is good enough for the fourth best record in the East
December 19th, 2013 at 12:59 PM ^
Beat Heat and Pacers on the road, making them the only team in the NBA to pull this off. Took Portland into OT and took a last second GW shot by Lillard to beat the Pistons. They can challenge the East after a slow start with a lot of new pieces and them trying to figure out where they fit. So far, they are forming an identity.
December 19th, 2013 at 12:09 PM ^
It's a solid team, but not one that's ever going to do much as constructed. Defense is the best predicter of playoff success, and Detroit's defense is pretty bad.
Monroe has to go. That lets Smith slide over to the 4, where he belongs, brings in another asset, and prevents a horrifying cap mess in the frontcourt. Monroe supposedly wants a max (which is dumb), and Detroit can't pay him anywhere near that with Drummond's extension coming up in the near future.
If they can flip Monroe for a real 2 or 3, that'd be ideal. There would still be a glaring need for a star offensive threat (no, Brandon Jennings isn't taking you places as your best scorer), but not bad.
December 19th, 2013 at 1:17 PM ^
Boston is 12-15 and winning their division. AAANNNDDD that's why I don't watch the NBA any more.
December 19th, 2013 at 1:28 PM ^
A little perspective people. Think about this team compared to the garbage that was put on the floor the last three seasons. At least this team is exciting to watch. I haven't made it out to the Palace for a game this season but I will defintely be going to a few. You couldn't have paid me to drive out there the last few seasons. I was offered tickets by my company's CEO a couple times and said thanks but no thanks.
December 19th, 2013 at 1:40 PM ^
Are there any realistic options at the 2 or 3 that the Pistons would be able to acquire in some sort of package for Monroe?
December 19th, 2013 at 3:07 PM ^
and came back from 23 last night in the Gaaaden to take down the Celtics in a (if they started today) playoff preview of sorts.The real "Gaaaden" is long gone. The new one is just another bland 20,000-seat NBA arena.
December 19th, 2013 at 5:36 PM ^
December 19th, 2013 at 3:07 PM ^
As long as LeBron is still alive and Nike wants to sell shoes and Stern is being Stern the NBA will be a joke.
Oh look LeBron won another title... sweet.
December 19th, 2013 at 3:25 PM ^
Stern is retiring this season. LeBron has 2 championships in his decade in the league. But there's always going to be some dumb, generic assertions to cast, I guess
December 19th, 2013 at 3:35 PM ^
December 19th, 2013 at 3:39 PM ^
Agree with the OP. The Pistons are much improved from last year and are better than their record. This team is very young, has a lot of gelling together in front of them, but has honest-to-goodness potential.
December 19th, 2013 at 5:19 PM ^
This is the first year in a while that I haven't missed a Pistons game. I really hope they don't trade Monroe, that would be really stupid. They should build around Drummound and Monroe in their prime. Also KCP is my Piston. I love that dude's shooting stroke and lock down defense.