With a lot of talk about the draft, and draft prospects after the draft lottery, the time is right to bring you all the season wrap for the starting line up.
One of the biggest problems with the starting lineup for the Detroit Pistons, was the inconsistent energy levels night to night. This led to a lot of lineup tinkering from Stan Van Gundy, as he was trying to find a solution. This led to some issues with team chemistry and the offense spluttering a little bit, as players tried to figure out how to run and participate in the offense as required.
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If we take a look at the basic team statistic rankings, we discover that the Detroit Pistons ranked 7th in opponent points per game, and 4th in rebounds per game. Then we find out that they ranked 24th in assists per game, and 26th in points per game. So this makes it very clear that the offense needs improve and if the defense maintained its level of play, then a lot more games would’ve end up being won.
For more detailed analysis of the Detroit Pistons offense, particularly the first quarter, my colleague Duncan Smith has just written a detailed analysis.
Let’s take a look at the individuals within the starting lineup. The lineup I’ve used is: Reggie Jackson, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Marcus Morris, Jon Leuer, and Andre Drummond.
Reggie Jackson
Reggie Jackson averaged 27.4 minutes per game in 52 games. He averaged 14.5 points, 2.2 rebounds, and 5.2 assists per game. Jackson shot 41.9 percent from the field, 35.9 percent three-point shooting, and 86.8 percent free throw shooting.
Reggie Jackson’s comeback from injury was disappointing to say the least. When he eventually came back from injury he looked like he’d lost his change of speed, that explosive first step that he used all of last year to run the pick and roll offense effectively and efficiently. This season the Detroit Pistons ranked 25th in offensive rating, a decline on last year’s offensive rating of 15th.
Without that explosive first step Reggie Jackson had to settle for a lot more jump shots and a lot more of those came from beyond the three-point line. Yes you’ll all now tell me his percentage took another step forward, but his strength is using that first step off a screen to create some separation from his defender, which causes some confusion on the cover, which allows for the pass through to Drummond or the finish at the rim. That way his improved shooting is a reliable plan B.
Do I believe Reggie can bring back the form of last season? Absolutely I do. He was given the end of last season off, which I believe was to fully recover that knee.
Chances he remains a Piston: 75 percent. He will be a Piston to start the season, but whether he ends next season a Piston, that’s hard to predict.
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (KCP) averaged 33.3 minutes per game in 76 games. KCP averaged 13.8 points, 3.3 rebounds, 2.5 assists, and 1.2 steals per game this season. KCP shot 39.9 percent from the field, 35 percent three-point shooting, and 83.2 percent free throw shooting.
KCP took the step forward we were all hoping he would. He hit some big time shots this season, and is a player that is constantly on the move on offense. This creates good options for him, and his teammates by disrupting the defense. He was a reliable scorer for us this season, and seemed to struggle with his shot after his shoulder injury, which has been well documented. He’s developed a few go to moves on offense, my favourite being the curl around the screen at the three-point line which results in a good look or quite frequently a foul and a decent look at the rare four-point play.
In the coming season the Detroit Pistons will be looking to KCP to take another step forward and hopefully become that go to scorer, to help Tobias Harris a little more.
Chances he remains a Piston: 99 percent. For the sake of all Detroit Piston fans, can we please just pay KCP already! KCP is a restricted free agent so have the right to match any offer that comes his way, and I certainly hope and think that they will.
Marcus Morris
Marcus Morris averaged 32.5 minutes per game in 79 games this season. He averaged 14 points, 4.6 rebounds, and 2 assists per game. He shot 41.8 percent from the field, 33.1 percent three-point shooting, and 78.4 percent free throw shooting.
Acquiring Morris in a trade for a second round pick, might just be one of the best moves in recent history for this franchise. He has two years left on his contract at a reported figure around five million per year. Marcus is costing us less than the cap hit from Josh Smith!
His value and production are vital to the Detroit Pistons success. He has this knack of hitting tough shots in isolation which act as a bit of a get out of jail free card for this sputtering offense. He also plays with that tough attitude reminiscent of the Bad Boys, and personally I love that.
I would like to see Marcus Morris continue to improve as a shooter. I think Marcus would make an excellent sixth man candidate for the Detroit Pistons. If they were able to pursue someone a little more suited to the current team, more of a spot up shooter able to spread the floor a little better, then switch Morris to that sixth man role switching between forward spots if needed and averaging around 30 minutes a game. The bench unit could really use his ability to score in isolation.
Chances he remains a Piston: 100 percent. Two more years left on his very reasonable contract, and Stan Van Gundy seems to love him. He’s not going anywhere.
Jon Leuer
Jon Leuer averaged 25.9 minutes per game in 75 games this season. Jon averaged 10.2 points, 5.4 rebounds, and 1.5 assists per game. Jon shot 48 percent from the field, 29.3 percent three-point shooting, and 86.7 percent free throw shooting.
Leuer signed the biggest contract in his career to come to the Detroit Pistons, a reported $10 million per year, which also makes him the fourth-highest paid player on the roster. He was signed with the sole intention of him coming in and hitting shots, stretching the floor and giving Drummond some space to operate inside.
For the first half of the season he did that, hit his shots at a good clip and looked like a fantastic signing. However after the all-star break Leuer really struggled with his shot, and looked like a completely different player.
Considering his considerable salary, he needs to be doing a lot more, I would like to see the Pistons explore the option of trading Leuer and bringing Henry Ellenson off the bench. With the current NBA climate, are we likely to compete for a championship next season? Unlikely. So if the Pistons can develop some young players and get the team primed for two to three years then maybe that’s where we should be looking.
Chances he remains a Piston: 50 percent. During the first half of the season this percentage would’ve been higher, Leuer really struggled towards the end of the season, and with his considerable salary, the Detroit Pistons could potentially put that cap space to use.
Andre Drummond
Andre Drummond averaged 29.7 minutes per game in 81 games this season. Andre averaged 13.6 points, 13.8 rebounds, 1.1 assists, 1.5 steals, and 1.1 blocks per game. Andre shot 53 percent from the field, 28.6 percent three-point shooting (on a mere seven attempts), and 38.6 percent free throw shooting.
Andre seemed to struggle with the pressure this season of being the unofficial leader of the team. There were nights where he looked to being carrying the weight of the world on those huge shoulders of his. Then there were also nights where he looked free of that, and played that way too.
Did Drummond progress the way that we all wanted him to this season? No. But he is still young, and per recent comments made to Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press:
"“With this summer coming up, we have to do a better job staying connected — the more stuff we do together, the better our camaraderie will be. Right now is the most important time for our team, to rest, get ourselves together, come together collectively and come up with what we need to do together,” Drummond said."
The biggest thing that Detroit Pistons fans will be looking for this season from Andre is consistency. Consistency in effort levels and energy levels. As a fan you can forgive players for losing, assuming they put in maximum effort.
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Chances he remains a Piston: 99 percent. Andre Drummond seemed to not handle the leadership and responsibility as well as could be hoped. He’s a great player with great potential, but has some things to work on. Unless there’s a blockbuster and we’re getting a young superstar, he’s not going anywhere.