Lovable Losers: Favorite Pistons centers
Welcome to the Lovable Losers series.
This isn’t a place where we confess our hope and expectations for the Pistons’ future. It’s not a place where we speculate what’s next for a franchise that has strung together seven losing seasons in a row. It’s a series where he look back on all that misery.
Over the next five days, we’ll look back on our favorite players and coaches from one of the sorriest eras in Pistons history. We’ll alternate between favorite coaches point guards, shooting guards, small forwards, power forwards and centers… and our least favorite from 2008-2015.
Join the discussion in the comments — we’re in this together.
Dan Feldman: Ben Wallace
Wallace was my favorite championship-team Piston, and it was great to watch his late-career Benaissance (HT: DBB). He was so much better than his teammates, he distorted everyone’s plus-minus. Have to love someone to proud to fail.
Brady Fredericksen: Andre Drummond
You can count the amount of good things to happen to the Pistons in the past six years, and you’d be hard pressed to find anything better than having Drummond fall right into their laps on draft night. If you think the Pistons have been depressing during this stretch, imagine having John Henson instead of Drummond.
Tim Thielke: Andre Drummond
How could I not include Drummond? His over the rim style of play is delightful. He can put up the most monstrous lines the Pistons have seen since Grant Hill. And he’s the Pistons’ best chance at a resurgence. I did want to include Monroe somewhere because of all the ridiculous flak he gets, but there just wasn’t room.
Graham Simmington: Rasheed Wallace
People sometimes forget this, but basketball is actually a game, where the goal is generally to have fun. Sure, professional sports are a big deal and often take on more than just that simple aim, but having Rasheed Wallace around always made watching Detroit fun. Obviously Sheed helped lead the Pistons to win the 2004 NBA Title, but I’ll always remember him for all the joy he brought to the game in other ways.
Braden Shackelford: Andre Drummond
Even if he wasn’t part of the nucleus that makes me think brighter days are to come for the Pistons, Drummond would still be my favorite center on this list. No fan enjoys lackadaisical defense or a lack of effort, which Drummond has been known to do from time to time, but his sheer domination is fun to watch. If he ever puts it all together, the Pistons will have one of the few dominant big men in the NBA. Even if he continues to be a 13 ppg and 13 rebound guy the rest of his career the Pistons will have a player every team wishes they had.