The Detroit Pistons will have at least two new starters in the 2017-18 season with the decision not to re-sign Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and the trade of Marcus Morris. But these moves could mean other new starters, depending on who Stan Van Gundy elects to play.
The Detroit Pistons experimented with its lineups more frequently than we’ve seen in past seasons. Part of that was due to Reggie Jackson’s injury and subsequent lack of production after the injury. The other reason (which again, is due in part to the ramifications of Jackson’s injury) is because the team just wasn’t good at all.
With the removal of two starters in Marcus Morris and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, the Pistons will undoubtedly start a new group of players this season, but who should those players be?
Below are the most likely lineups, in my opinion:
Lineup 1:
Reggie Jackson
Avery Bradley
Stanley Johnson
Jon Leuer
Andre Drummond
Lineup 2:
Reggie Jackson
Avery Bradley
Tobias Harris
Jon Leuer
Andre Drummond
Lineup 3:
Reggie Jackson
Avery Bradley
Stanley Johnson
Tobias Harris
Andre Drummond
I’m going to be really honest with you guys, I do not like Jon Leuer very much. Perhaps last season was a fluke in that everyone’s ineptitude made each other even worse, but Leuer didn’t show many positives offensively.
Therefore, my favorite lineup, and the most versatile in my opinion, is lineup three.
A few things that I absolutely love about lineup 3 is that both Stanley Johnson and Tobias Harris get starts. I think Harris was far and away the Pistons’ best player last season, and is most deserving of getting to start.
Moreover, I want to see Johnson get a real opportunity to show what he’s capable of with more minutes and a longer leash. It’s year three for Johnson, and if the Pistons don’t know what they have in him, because they fail to get him on the court, than they are doing something wrong. (Though admittedly, they can still see what they have in him without starting him).
Which lineup do you all want to see most?