The Detroit Pistons go into the offseason without a playoff appearance for the second consecutive season. What area can the team add or improve on to change that this offseason?
The Detroit Pistons didn’t make a postseason appearance this season, nor did the team last season. That means the team has at least one significant weakness.
But what’s the team’s biggest weakness, and in turn, need, this offseason?
Some might say that health is the team’s biggest need. Considering Reggie Jackson, the team’s best facilitator, has been injured the last two seasons, those people may not be wrong.
However, after a certain point, you also have to consider whether the player is the bigger issue. Perhaps this is going to be the norm for Jackson, and even Blake Griffin, who has missed time historically.
While health is important, there have been plenty of other teams that have lost key players that have been able to overcome and make the playoffs.
The Boston Celtics lost Gordon Hayward for the season on opening night. The Boston Celtics still ended up with the number two seed in the Eastern Conference. The Celtics also lost Kyrie Irving for the playoffs, and yet, the team leads the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round, absent of two of its best players.
The Washington Wizards lost John Wall for half of its season. Yet, the Wizards made the playoffs.
Injuries happen, and other teams have been successful despite it.
The Pistons must be able to do the same, which means that health isn’t the only concern. In fact, the notion may be a crutch.
So for me, the Pistons biggest need is development. I think the team has enough talent to be a top-tier team in the Eastern Conference, but its players must be coached and developed. While Boston has had higher picks over the last few seasons, the team’s ability to develop players has been a key contributor to success.
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It’s success that the Pistons could have too, with the young talent on the roster.
That’s my take, what’s yours?