Pistons Training Camp 2015: Three Questions
By Rod Berger
The offseason has officially ended and it is time for fans and coaches to see how Piston players look after months of talk and Twitter emoji battles that raged throughout the NBA. Here are the three questions that will need answering as Pistons training camp 2015 begins:
Will Marcus Morris cement his role as a starter?
Morris has already begun the chatter about his days in a Phoenix Suns uniform believing that he should have started.
Should Piston fans and coaches be worried about his stint in the desert? The short answer is no. It is, however, slightly disturbing that Morris is planting this seed so early.
It appeared, at his press conference, that he had heeded the apparent advice of his agent to “buy-in” to the Motor City. Sporting a Bad Boys hat can calm even the most cantankerous fan.
Morris needs to show that he not only is a fit on the court, but also in the locker room. There is a lot of positive energy flowing through most NBA training facilities, as the seasons turn from summer to fall, and starting off with remnants of last year on another team reeks of immaturity.
One can imagine that a Mr. Stanley Johnson will be very happy to take over while Mr. Morris continues to reminisce.
Will a starting backcourt of Reggie Jackson and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope work?
The sample size was small and the Pistons, as a team, looked emotionally and physically drained by seasons end last year. The true test will be if the starting backcourt can shoot well enough to clear lanes for each other. If one or the other can, at minimum hit 40% behind the arc, defenses will have to respect the dynamic slashing abilities of both Jackson and KCP.
If, for some reason, shooting remains inconsistent from this duo than KCP, by sheer economics, will be relegated to the bench. Stan Van Gundy has to be hoping that KCP finally settles into his role, as a professional, and strokes the long ball with the kind of accuracy fans have pined for.
KCP’s defense and slashing ability have been on display since his rookie year. A consistent shot that has to be respected remains the lone variable on an otherwise promising start to his career.
The first day of camp brought similar messages, from the duo, about pushing each other. Given our questions with Morris this has to be a positive development and sign of unity at the start.
Will a strong start bring back the faithful to the Palace?
Talk is cheap in professional sports. Agents, managers, publicists, friends and family “coach” todays athlete on talk about contracts, playoffs, teammates, struggles with coaches and so much more. At some point, the athletes fans support have to put “it” together on the floor. It has become increasingly hard to watch Pistons games when one can actually see the vast open spaces at the Palace.
The product on the court actually needs to beat the odds. National media has not been kind on the perceived growth of the 2015-2016 Detroit Pistons squad comparing them to, a minimum of nine to ten, other teams predicted to be in the conversation next spring.
That says something about the Pistons whether fans like it or not. The Pistons are a brand that has a recognizable legacy bundled with a murky recent past.
The NBA continues to build brands and push the teams fans ought to like and follow. Very rarely do Detroiters here or see NBA players resembling the Piston blue.
This season will answer a lot of questions.