Bleacher Report ranks the Pistons’ backcourt

With ranking season well upon us, Bleacher Report took it a step further and ranked all the backcourts in the NBA, including that of your Detroit Pistons.

As we’ve seen in recent days, it is ranking season in the NBA. While SI and ESPN and other outlets have done individual rankings, Bleacher Report took a different angle and ranked all of the starting backcourts in the NBA, including that of your Detroit Pistons.

There weren’t many surprises at the top (James Harden and Chris Paul at No. 1, Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson at No. 2… although this could debatably surprise) or at the bottom (the New York Knicks duo of Ramon Sessions and Tim Hardaway Jr.), so the middle is where you can find the twists.

That’s also where the Detroit Pistons’ duo of Reggie Jackson and Avery Bradley can be found. Adam Fromal placed them at 14th, which could be considered a friendly ranking considering the dreadful campaign Jackson had a year ago, but was well-reasoned.

Fromal broke down the issues facing Jackson and the Pistons this season:

"So much depends on Reggie Jackson, and we’re largely splitting the difference between the two extremes.If he regains his health and reminds onlookers why he was once considered a future All-Star, he could easily push the Detroit Pistons backcourt into the top 10. If he continues to struggle with knee tendinitis and never regains the physicality he previously possessed on both ends, this could be one of the dozen worst groupings in the NBA."

Bradley is the counterpoint to Jackson, and perhaps the perfect counterpoint given his catch and shoot abilities and his excellence on defense.

Fromal broke down what Bradley brings to the table with the Pistons:

"The ex-Boston Celtic acquired in a trade for Marcus Morris should immediately become the team’s best three-point shooter, helping space out the floor around Andre Drummond and allowing head coach Stan Van Gundy to move closer toward his favored four-out, one-in stylings. He’s also a premier perimeter defender and should be capable of alleviating Jackson’s responsibilities by taking on the toughest assignment each and every night."

Next: Pistons Media Day and training camp schedule announced

Bradley can indeed lighten the load defensively for Jackson, but he can also take some of the load off him on offense as well. Bradley is good with the ball in his hands and just as good at shooting off the catch, meaning he can handle the ball and allow Jackson to work off the ball, or he can be a better recipient off Jackson’s pass than anybody the Pistons had on the roster last season.