Blazersedge 2008-09 NBA Season Preview: The Pistons

by Dave on Oct 6, 2008 11:52 PM PDT

DETROIT PISTONS

Record: 59-23, 1^st in Central Division, 2nd in Eastern Conference

Statistical Comparisons

Notable:

1st in opponent scoring (90.1 ppg)

2nd in ppg differential (+7.4 ppg)

3rd in opponent field goal %

3rd in blocks

1st in turnovers

Others:

16th in the league in scoring (97.5 ppg)

13th in field goal %

13th in three-point %

22^nd in free throw attempts per game

13^th (tie) in free throw percentage

10th in assists

17th in steals

18th in opponent turnovers

Good offensive rebounding team

Average defensive rebounding team

Movement

Significant Additions: Kwame Brown, Will Bynum

Significant Subtractions: Jarvis Hayes, Juan Dixon, Theo Ratliff

Roster

Coach: Michael Curry

Key Players

PG: Chauncey Billups, Rodney Stuckey

SG: Rip Hamilton, Aaron Afflalo

SF: Tayshaun Prince

PF: Rasheed Wallace, Jason Maxiell, Amir Johnson

C: Antonio McDyess, Kwame Brown

Comments

As I recall from comments made after the Pistons were ousted from the Eastern Conference Finals by the eventual champion Celtics, this was supposed to be the summer where Joe Dumars made major moves to get his team back over the hump. I would say Kwame Brown qualifies as majorly underwhelming. In fact you look at that whole Detroit bench and go, “Maxiell is a nice undersized power forward, but still…eewww?”

Nevertheless, the Pistons are suffering from the predictable tendency of fans and media alike to bury any team that finishes almost, but not quite. As long as their starting unit stays healthy they’re still a very nice team. You don’t get a +7.4 point differential by accident. Their defense is great and their offense is smart. These guys have all been there before and they’re not going to fall apart. I don’t think they’re a serious threat to get to the Finals just because of their depth and age (something is going to go wrong somewhere and their backup plan isn’t great) but I could easily see them posting another season that 25 teams in the league would envy. And, by the way, this is the Eastern Conference. Out West if one of the leaders falls they’ll immediately be set upon by eight or nine jackals eager to carve out their carcass. If Boston somehow loses a key player (or their drive or their minds) it’s a dead race between two or three teams to supplant them. Detroit is one of those teams.

I’m curious to see how new coach Michael Curry affects this squad. Maybe he peps them up and gives the grizzled veterans reason to play again. On the other hand it could be a disaster. The thing is, disaster for Detroit is probably 48 wins and an exit before the third playoff round. For most teams that’s a successful year. That’s why they’re still the Pistons.

--Dave (blazersub@yahoo.com)

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Comments

Depth Chart Correction?

Dave, the Detroit News reported a couple days ago that Amir Johnson’s going to be the starting PF this year.
(http://www.detnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20081004/SPORTS0102/810040426/1127/rss13)

I suppose that would make ‘Sheed the starting C and McDyess a reserve. Then again, I’m no expert!

"Well, Travis just showed us that we can go to Travis Outlaw." - Nate McMillan

by 12sharks on Oct 7, 2008 12:08 AM PDT reply actions

Rasheed Wallace ...

will have to adjust his game offensively upon moving to center. At least he can defend the position, though.

Antonio McDyess and Jason Maxiell will make nice reserves, but it’s hard to see where Kwame Brown — whose height, solid defense, hands of stone, and poor offense makes him the antithesis of Maxiell — fits in among ’em.

Also, Walter “Fabio” Herrmann is Tayshaun Prince’s sharp-shooting backup at small forward, with hard-nosed rookie Walter Sharpe coming in third on the depth chart; that won’t end well if Prince suffers from a major injury.

by AK1984 on Oct 7, 2008 12:50 AM PDT up reply actions

I hear that too

Johnson and Stuckey seem to be coming along this year. To the point that Dumars even excluded Stuckey from any trade talks.

Odenied: If you're given lemmings—make lemming-ade (Bow4Meow)

by Norsktroll on Oct 7, 2008 1:15 AM PDT up reply actions

Nice

Didn’t catch that.

I think I like that better anyway.

—Dave

by Dave on Oct 7, 2008 7:25 AM PDT up reply actions

I had almost exactly the opposite opinion

in looking at their bench.

Stuckey could start for some teams. Maxiell is an above average guy off the bench. Afflalo and Amir Johnson are two young guys with lots of upside. I think Dumars has some nice young talent behind the starters, particularly when you consider how low he’s been drafting. If Brown shows even a hint of a game, Detroit has one of the deeper teams in the East.

hakkaa päälle !

by timg56 on Oct 7, 2008 11:54 AM PDT reply actions

Isn't Kwame Brown an addition by subtraction?

So therefore does he really exist at all?

2-4 the who

by 24thewho on Oct 7, 2008 1:45 PM PDT reply actions

I know Ricky Davis

is subtraction by addition. I’m not entirely sure what category Kwame is in now.

—Dave

by Dave on Oct 7, 2008 3:48 PM PDT up reply actions

Nowadays, Kwame Brown ...

is a low-post defensive stopper.

During single possession situations late in the half, Brown can come in for either Amir Johnson or Jason Maxiell and be paired with Rasheed Wallace to seal up the paint. However, it sucks that Brown’s unrefined skill set and poor court awareness offensively — as well as his small hands of stone — prevented him from becoming a star player.

by AK1984 on Oct 7, 2008 4:07 PM PDT up reply actions

The "Centers taken way too early in the draft All-Stars"?

Featuring Kwame Brown, Michael Olowokandi, Shawn Bradley, Todd Fuller, and Jon Koncak. Chris Mihm and Sam Bowie could not make the game due to nagging injuries.

Odenied: If you're given lemmings—make lemming-ade (Bow4Meow)

by Norsktroll on Oct 8, 2008 5:04 AM PDT up reply actions