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Detroit Pistons want more DeAndre Jordan out of Andre Drummond

By Braden Shackelford

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - AUGUST 4: Andre Drummond of Team World practices for the 2017 Africa Game as part of the Basketball Without Borders Africa at the Ticketpro Dome on August 4, 2017 in Gauteng province of Johannesburg, South Africa. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - AUGUST 4: Andre Drummond of Team World practices for the 2017 Africa Game as part of the Basketball Without Borders Africa at the Ticketpro Dome on August 4, 2017 in Gauteng province of Johannesburg, South Africa. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Detroit Pistons have playoff expectations heading into the 2017-18 season. If they hope to reach those goals, Andre Drummond will need to bounce back. They key to bouncing back, and even more, according to Stan Van Gundy, is reverting back to his old ways.

The Detroit Pistons need to figure out the best way to maximize Andre Drummond.

When Stan Va Gundy first joined the Pistons, he played with Drummond’s game. He challenged him to develop a back-to-the-basket game and become more than a pick-and-role artist.

The transition was slow and painful the first season under Van Gundy, but in year two Drummond took big steps forward, as Drummond landed his first all-star appearance.

Then year three under Van Gundy happened, and Drummond took two steps back.

So How do the Pistons get the most of Drummond? Well, they ask him to do what he does best, attack the rim on pick-and-rolls offensively, and attack the boards on both ends.

Via NBA.com:

"“The step, to me, for Andre is to do a little bit of what DeAndre Jordan does and dominate the game at the defensive end of the floor. Become that All-Defense type of guy. Because he’s already a historically great rebounder and to add to that becoming a great defender and build his game from there and everything to be built around the basket – his pick and rolls, going to the rim, running the floor, all of that.”"

I am all for reducing Drummond’s post touches and letting him be the player he was his first two seasons. Drummond’s first two season in the NBA he shot 60.8%  and 62.3%. In year two, he averaged 13 and 13 without needing much offense at all. Sure, he was involved in the post game, but there were seldom ever isolation and back-to-the-basket plays drawn up for him.

Next: Drummond stars on and off the court in Africa

Maybe some day Drummond refines his game. If that happens, the Pistons should look to re-introduce the more isolation plays. Until then, unleash the beast and play to Drummond’s strengths.

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