Starting point guard is the Pistons most critical question

Is Ish Smith the best choice to start at point guard for the Detroit Pistons? We’ll find out Wednesday when Stan Van Gundy announces his starter.

As the Detroit Pistons embark upon the 2017-18 season the most critical unanswered question may be who should start at point guard. While the Pistons’ main mission of winning a championship is no doubt a few years down the road, the pathway there is taking shape now. A very critical piece of the championship puzzle will be selecting the right point guard to lead the team forward. With the season just underway, it’s time to ask the question, should Ish Smith start at point guard?

Stan Van Gundy may have allowed the point guard situation to find its own solution. After the disastrous results of last year, Van Gundy did a lot of soul searching. The point guard situation was likely cause for much consternation.

Reggie Jackson had followed up his career-best season of 2015-16 with his career-worst season of 2016-17. Not only career-worst, but league-worst among starting point guards. Meanwhile, unheralded Ish Smith shined during the 2016-17 campaign amassing his career best season.

Jackson had a dreadful net rating of -8.8, while Ish Smith had a positive net rating at +.6. Smith had very clearly outplayed Jackson for the season. This preseason has been no different with regard to net rating comparison. For the preseason, Ish Smith had a net rating of +19.5. Jackson had a net rating of an incredible -31.9. The team has clearly performed better when Ish Smith has been in the game versus when Jackson has been in.

The current position dilemma is not just about who is the better player. That can be debated all day. The correct question is which player will best further the goal of reaching a championship? Which player has the best chance of still being an integral part of the mix when the Pistons do become bona fide contenders? Which point guard can best lead this team?

Championship pathway: Players

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I think it’s realistic to say that the Pistons ability to become contenders will require some combination of tremendous player development, and great player acquisitions. The edge here again goes to Ish Smith. The Pistons desperately need to give their youth every chance possible to develop into stars.

Tobias Harris was the classic example of the effect of Smith on team player development. Playing alongside Reggie Jackson, Harris was almost an afterthought in the offense. Playing alongside Smith, Harris became a very potent offensive weapon. Harris’ importance to the team expanded. Because Smith gets other players involved in the offense much more than Jackson, the chance for players developing to their full potential is far greater.

Smith also has a more favorable impact on player acquisitions. By now, every player in the league is at least vaguely aware of Jackson’s health problems. How many star potential players will want to sign on to a team lead by a player that has been plagued with the health issues that Jackson has? How many of the up and coming players will want to play alongside a PG with the shoot first, ball pounding mentality of Jackson? With the better win/loss results derived with Smith at the helm, I can see perhaps some of the up and coming players wanting to run in a system where they can realistically achieve their potential.

Championship pathway: Good organization/coaching

The ascension of Ish Smith to starting point guard would be a great signal for both the players on the Pistons, and any free agent going forward that is contemplating signing with the Pistons. It’s something to be said for an organization that plays the players that have truly earned their minutes. It’s good to know that regardless of where one is at on the ladder, if you outplay those ahead of you, then eventually you will be recognized and promoted. Isn’t that something that everyone can embrace and appreciate, regardless of individual occupation? We all want our hard work to be recognized and rewarded.

Long-term viability

Which point guard, Jackson or Smith, has the most promise of being an integral part of a contending Piston team? There is a good chance that neither will be the starter on a Detroit Pistons NBA championship team.

Since Smith is currently 29 years old, it is quite doubtful that he will improve enough and still be quick enough to hold down that starting spot five years down the road. However, I can foresee Smith being a very capable contributing reserve on that team while also still being one of the leaders of the team. I can foresee Smith having a positive locker room presence for that contending team.

I can’t begin to say the same for Jackson. Far too many issues from health related to maturity related to basketball IQ related to believe that Jackson will ever be a starting point guard on any NBA championship team.

Foresight and coaching

I can’t commend Stan Van Gundy enough on how he has handled the starting point guard situation. Rather than succumbing to fans wishes, and hastily jerking Jackson out of the starting line up last year, he allowed Jackson every opportunity to show his worth. That carried over to the preseason too. For all intents and purposes entering the preseason, it was Jackson’s job to lose.

While as of this writing no decision has been made as to who will start at point guard for the Pistons, Jackson may have lost the starting job fair and square. The results speak for themselves. The comparison is not close. One need look no further than the net rating comparison to know that Smith may very well be the Pistons best chance of having a successful season. In hindsight, the Pistons may have overpaid on Jackson, but they got a heck of a deal on Smith.

Next: Stan Van Gundy quotes from practice

Going forward

The Pistons can take their time and continue to look for a younger and better point guard than Smith either through free agency or the draft. Jackson can play fewer minutes and continue to rehab his knee. The Detroit Pistons organization should continue to entertain trade offers for Jackson. It doesn’t have to necessarily be a trade for another point guard. Galloway can fill in as needed off the bench.

I ask you, the Pistons fans, should Ish Smith start for the Detroit Pistons?