3. Fill in the blank: If the Pistons are going to reach their full potential, Andre Drummond must _______?
Shackelford: … have a consistent and efficient low post game.
Fredericksen: … learn to defend without fouling. The idea of protecting the rim, while novel, is a bit vague. Yes, you want your center to block shots and keep people from getting easy buckets at the rim, but the biggest thing Drummond needs to do is learn to move his feet and find the right spots defensively. That’ll keep him in good position to keep guys off the rim and avoid silly fouls.
Thielke: … become a superstar. He needs to become a legitimate all-defense candidate and either improve his free throw shooting or be a threat to finish and create an and-1 every time somebody tries to stop him with an intentional foul.
Smith: … stay on the floor and hit his free throws. He gets in his own way committing 4 fouls per 36 minutes over the course of his career (that’s been a consistent number all three years), and his free throw woes are well documented. He averages 16 points and 16 rebounds per 36, so if he can stay on the floor longer without his production dropping much as a result, that will go a long, long way for the Pistons.
Davidson: … Score and rebound, obviously, but what is equally as important is that he becomes a leader on and off the court. He’s the face of the franchise now, and it is clear that the front office sees him as a cornerstone for the future. He needs to embrace the leadership role and have a monstrous impact on the floor as well as in the locker room.
Garrett: … be a more reliable post defender and rim protector. If Drummond can manage to communicate better on defense, foul less and infrequently bite on pump fakes, he can be the pillar that allows the Pistons to reach their full potential by allowing the offense to carry the team and make up for it when it stalls. Oh yeah, and it wouldn’t hurt if he started boxing out on defensive rebounds, too.
Brokke: … become a perennial star. He has the physical tools to be great, and that’s only magnified when you see him in person. He is so much bigger than his competition.
Crowder: … develop more as a post player. Drummond clearly is excellent at rebounding, playing above the rim, and defense. But for him to become an elite center, and then the Pistons to reach their full potential, he will have to continue to work on his post-up offense, diversifying his skill set on offense.
LaBlue: … become a top-3 center in the NBA. The Pistons will go where Drummond takes them, and he has the ability be that guy.
Berger: … stay within his lane. Focus on his role and minimize any attempt to become the next Dwight Howard focused on everything other than basketball.