Five goals for Henry Ellenson in the 2017-18 season

3. Be more physical

Being aggressive on offense is one thing. Bringing that same energy on defense is another.

Stretch four or not, players who stand at 6’11” are expected to hold their own in the paint. That means fighting for inside positioning, boxing out, and having the awareness to help on the weak side.

All of those responsibilities remain a work in progress for Henry Ellenson, and that’s alright. The kid (yes, he is technically still a kid) is only 20. The Pistons are being patient with his development.

But he must show an improvement in the paint this season. That means attempting to box out on every shot. There were moments last year where Ellenson would crash the glass, and made no effort to position himself in front of his man.

Instead, he was the one who got boxed out on most occasions. Ellenson isn’t strong enough, nor does he have the vertical ability, to get around players on the block. At least not at this point in his career.

Yet, that’s exactly what he tries to do. Until his strength becomes more of a factor, he must rely on the fundamentals.