Piston Powered mailbag: Your Pistons’ questions answered

We’re a bit past the quarter mark of the Detroit Pistons’ 2016-17 regular season, and some of our biggest questions about this team may have been answered.

The Detroit Pistons have stayed afloat in Reggie Jackson‘s 21-game absence due to knee tendinitis and have a reasonable 12-12 record for this point in the season, all things considered.

There have been a few questions that have repeatedly arisen over the course of this young season, and I think it’s time to directly address some of your most pressing queries.

A couple of weeks ago I put out a call on the @PistonPowered twitter account and my own twitter account, seeking questions for a mailbag post. You guys heeded my request, and we’ve got some questions that I hope to answer satisfactorily.

Related Story: Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson are starting to click

Thank you guys for your curiosity and eager cooperation, and if you enjoy this format I’ll be doing a lot more of these.

With no further ado, let’s ask and answer some questions.

While there are a few guys who you could consider untouchable in the NBA, Andre Drummond isn’t necessarily one of them. That said, he’s pretty close to it. Considering his age, athleticism and huge potential if he can put everything together, and the fact that Stan Van Gundy has essentially pinned everything about this franchise on his shoulders, he’s not going anywhere.

As far as if a trade would make them better, there are some outlandish deals that could in theory improve them, but the kind of gutting that such a trade would cause for the franchise from a player and asset standpoint would make that a virtual no-go.

I didn’t believe that Andre Drummond is a top-five center a few weeks ago. DeMarcus Cousins, DeAndre Jordan, Karl-Anthony Towns, Dwight Howard and Hassan Whiteside could all make arguments to be better than Drummond.

However, it could be argued that only Boogie, KAT and Whiteside have actually been better than Drummond so far this season. With the exception of Wednesday night’s loss to the Charlotte Hornets, we haven’t really seen him at the height of his powers this season, and I STILL can’t make a definitive case that he’s not top-five.

So my answer is maybe. Very possible. Fine. Yeah, he’s a top five center.

Stanley Johnson is a big question mark right now. When he hits the floor, he’s a mess. Indecisive, makes the wrong decision when he does choose and go, completely snakebitten on both ends of the court. If something can go wrong for Johnson, it usually will, whether it’s his fault or not.

Right now that reserve wing spot is Darrun Hilliard‘s to lose, at least for the next couple of games, but that doesn’t mean that we’re not going to see Johnson in action. For as long as Stan Van Gundy believes that Hilliard gives the Pistons their best chance to win, however, Johnson will be getting spot minutes at best.

As for trade concerns, it’s pretty unlikely. He still has value on his rookie contract and at just 20 years old, it’s too soon to think the Pistons are ready to give up on him.

This is a question that was bothering more than a few fans as we built up to Reggie Jackson’s return. It’s cheating a bit on my part to answer this after he’s played in three games, but the Pistons’ defensive success hasn’t hinged upon point guards being proficient on that end of the floor.

https://twitter.com/NBA_Fotos10/status/806505671416041473

The Pistons’ bench and bigs (emphasis on Jon Leuer and Aron Baynes) in particular have been outstanding defensively, making it hard for opponent shooters to get clean looks inside the three-point line. While Jackson’s defensive inefficiencies are no secret, he’s worse in no way than Ish Smith on that end, and he has a length and size advantage which will help in dictating which way opposing wings drive and aid in cutting off passing lanes.

As proof that the defense won’t drop off significantly (if at all) with Reggie Jackson, it’s worth noting that his defensive rating is 94 so far. The sample isn’t large, having played just 67 minutes, but it’s consistent with what the Pistons have been doing so far.

There hasn’t been definitive word on this, and there likely won’t ever be. What is known is that Stanley Johnson showed up to the practice facility the morning of his suspension and was sent home for a violation of team rules.

For a one-game suspension, it could have been any number of minor things, but there’s no reason to think it was anything but minor.

As it goes with life sometimes, when it rains, it pours.

My preference is for the Pistons to go big and play Tobias Harris at the three and Leuer at the four, bringing Marcus Morris off the bench. Mind you, that preference was at its strongest a couple weeks ago before the Pistons’ 3-0 road trip, at which point the starting unit finally started to appear to gel together.

It looks like Van Gundy wants to keep Harris and Morris together on the first unit so that he can bring Leuer off the bench first and maintain that rebounding and defensive edge when starters start to sit.

Next: The Pistons may not let Aron Baynes go easily

Once again, thank you for your questions and your support through them.