The Detroit Pistons go into the all-star break at 6-3 since trading for Blake Griffin. However, the last four games have been pretty ugly. Luckily, the Pistons and coach Stan Van Gundy get a week to retool and prepare for a run during the last stretch of the season. What should the Pistons change during the break?
The Detroit Pistons have a golden opportunity to retool and identify what works and what doesn’t during the all-star break.
What should the team focus on during this opportunity?
My take?
There are a few things that irk my about what the Pistons are doing.
One of which centers around floor space when Blake Griffin has the ball and Andre Drummond is on the floor. Most of the time Griffin does any sort of posting up (where he’s at his best), Drummond’s defender ends up coming over to help and because of the lack of spacing, Griffin gets doubled and can’t make a clean pass to Drummond.
I know Drummond isn’t a perimeter or even 15 foot offensive player, but Griffin, and the rest of the team, would be better served if he crashed the glass off of a Griffin shot or pass to a shot, than clogging the lane as he is now.
The other thing I would like to see more of with Griffin and Drummond is pick-and-rolls, lead by Griffin.
Griffin has proven to be a solid ball handler and playmaker in his career, and the two players, I think, would excel in such situations.
Finally, I think the Pistons should take a serious look at the starting point guard position.
Ish Smith is not a shooting threat. Neither is Andre Drummond. Stanley Johnson has only recently been shooting the ball well. The point is, the floor spacing is not ideal, and Drummond and Johnson have been playing so well of late (and are critical to the Pistons long-term success) so I think the change needed most is at point guard.
While I think Langston Galloway should get a shot at point guard, I think Nelson would be the better start.
Nelson is a defensive liability, but he’s also a much better three-point shooting, and he is still a very good playmaker.
I think Nelson would blend in seamlessly with the rest of the starting group, and help flesh out the talents of the incumbent starters.
Next: Detroit Pistons: Stanley Johnson is a new player
What do you think the Pistons should focus on during the all-star break?