3-on-3: Moving forward, how can the Pistons keep this going?

1. With the Pistons suddenly alive — both literally and in the playoff race — what do they need to improve on most in the coming weeks?

Tim Thielke: They’ve had two rough outings since Smith’s departure. And they lost those in very different ways. The Pistons shot reasonably well against the Pelicans, but they got brutally out-rebounded 47-30, largely because Drummond would “box out” from way too deep under the basket and had to try to reach way behind his own back to try to secure boards. Against the Hawks, Detroit won the rebounding battle 61-32 and attempted 26 free throws to just 14 for Atlanta. It is really, really hard to lose by double digits when that happens. But with 35/26/58 splits, it becomes possible. And that’s what the Pistons did.

But really, they don’t need to improve on anything. One bad game every seven is tough to avoid for even the league’s very best. The Pistons just need to keep up the stellar level of play that they have typically displayed over the past 14 games and they’ll be fine. I don’t honestly think their ceiling at this point goes any higher than an 11-3 stretch in which they are plus-108.

Braden Shackelford: The Pistons play unselfishly on offense and have done a good job winning games when they keep their opponent under 100 points. That’s the recipe for success for a team that has a different leading scorer on almost a nightly basis. I’d also stress the importance of limiting turnovers. Since the Pistons are so inconsistent from night to night on offense they will need to maximize the most of their possessions.

Finally can Andre Drummond shoot above 50 percent from the floor and be a walking double double, impacting both ends of the floor, like we’ve come to expect from him or is he going to averaged nine points on 29.9 percent shooting like he did the previous four games before last Monday’s match up with Atlanta? Consistency will be key in determining whether or not the Pistons are in the playoffs this year or watching from their couches.

Dan Feldman: Wing scoring. As Tim pointed out, the Pistons’ success has been based too much on unsustainably strong play by Brandon Jennings and D.J. Augustin. Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe are solid inside, but if/when the point guards drop off, the Pistons need more perimeter help. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope runs hot and cold. Kyle Singler’s production has dipped. Jodie Meeks is still working his way back to peak form after his injury, though he’s already performing at a reasonable level. Meeks has the best excuse, so my money is on him stepping up.

2. There have been a number of Pistons playing better during the revival of this season. While the Pistons are probably shut out, who deserves to be an All-Star more — Andre Drummond or Brandon Jennings?

Tim Thielke: Jennings. Drummond may have deserved to be an all-star last year, but his efficiency has plummeted. And to those who say it’s because he’s being asked to do more: no, you’re wrong. Drummond is scoring 1.3 fewer points per game on 1.2 more shots per game, dropping his field goal percent from 62.3% to 48.7%. Unless you’re suggesting that he’s getting negative points on those extra possessions in which he’s trying to do more, the problem is that he hasn’t been doing as much of what he’s good at. 12 points and 13 boards is nice, but when a big man has a TS% under 50, he’s gotta make an insanely good case with the rest of his game.

Jennings point-blank doesn’t deserve an all-star nod, either. Averaging 15, 3, and 6 with 40/37/85 splits for a 16-26 team doesn’t qualify for even consideration for entry into the all-star conversation. But he still gets my nod over Drummond because when he has played well, it has actually led to winning.

Braden Shackelford: Both have been important to the Pistons and both have had their ups and downs, but I think that Drummond’s game is far more valuable to the Pistons, because of what he brings to the table. That’s elite rebounding, rim protection, and the way teams have to play Detroit in pick and role situations– it simply can’t be replaced. Despite his recent struggles, I think he deserves to be in the All-Star game, even though it probably won’t happen.

Dan Feldman: Drummond. I pick All-Stars based on which players are best at this very moment, so I don’t hold Drummond’s early struggles against him. He wouldn’t make my ballot, even though my system favors him relative to the traditional ones that assess half a season’s worth of production — but he warranted real consideration from me.

3. The Pistons sit 1.5 games behind Brooklyn for the East’s final playoff spot. With 12 games (six against playoff teams) until the All-Star break, where are the Pistons in the Eastern Conference standings come Feb. 12?

Tim Thielke: Miami has enough talent that their performance thus far has been massively disappointing. So I wouldn’t expect to see them get even worse. Milwaukee has probably built up too big of a cushion to slide very far. Indiana, Orlando, and Boston, while right on Detroit’s tail at the moment, just aren’t as good teams. It would be surprising to see any of them make a legitimate playoff push. That leaves Detroit, Charlotte, and Brooklyn battling for that last playoff spot. Since I expect to see them in any random order of 8, 9, and 10, I’ll peg the Pistons’ most likely position as ninth–at least by the all-star break.

If the Pistons keep playing anywhere close to as well as they have lately, there’s no reason they couldn’t move up a few places by the end of the season.

Braden Shackelford: The following teams record in their last 10 games: Miami Heat at 4-6 (No. 7), Brooklyn Nets at 2-8 (No. 8), Detroit Pistons at 7-3 and the Charlotte Hornets at 7-3 — sitting just outside the playoffs. I think the Pistons will be the eighth seed going into the All-Star break.

Dan Feldman: I’ve got the Pistons going 8-4, the Hornets 5-5, the Nets 4-8, the Heat 4-6, the Bucks 7-5 and the Cavaliers 10-3 between now and the All-Star break. That would put the Pistons seventh in the conference with Miami and Charlotte hot on their tails. This is shaking up to be a fun second half of the season.