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PistonPowered round table: Dwane Casey expectations

By Andrew Brewster

CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 20: Dwane Casey of the Toronto Raptors talks to the media during a press conference after Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Milwaukee Bucks of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on April 20, 2017 at BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jeffery Phelps/NBAE via Getty Images)
CLEVELAND, OH - APRIL 20: Dwane Casey of the Toronto Raptors talks to the media during a press conference after Game Three of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals against the Milwaukee Bucks of the 2017 NBA Playoffs on April 20, 2017 at BMO Harris Bradley Center in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this Photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Jeffery Phelps/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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3. What would you consider to be a successful season for Casey in his first year with the Pistons?

DETROIT, MI – FEBRUARY 1: Blake Griffin #23, Reggie Jackson #1, and Andre Drummond #0 of the Detroit Pistons celebrate after the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on February 1, 2018 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – FEBRUARY 1: Blake Griffin #23, Reggie Jackson #1, and Andre Drummond #0 of the Detroit Pistons celebrate after the game against the Memphis Grizzlies on February 1, 2018 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Brew: It might not be entirely fair but the playoffs should be the expectation.

As I said before, if Jackson was never injured, I see this roster as a playoff team. Casey has a five-year deal and was sold heavily on job security.

With the contracts currently on the books (Drummond, Griffin), if this doesn’t work from the start, things could get ugly fast. If the Pistons don’t find success from the jump, they will need to find a way to somehow launch a rebuild..

Casey was brought in because Stan Van Gundy could not find a way to win, even with injuries. No matter what happens to the health of Blake Griffin and Reggie Jackson this season, Dwane Casey will need to find a way to drag this team into the playoffs or he will be heavily criticized.

Joe: A successful season would depend heavily on the health of the team.

If Jackson, Griffin, and Drummond are all mostly healthy (let’s say 70+ games for all three, which obviously isn’t much of a worry for Drummond) then 50 wins and a legit (if not dark-horse) contender would be the bar for success.

If injuries strike in a significant way, which is not unlikely, then doing less would be
acceptable.

Barring truly catastrophic injury (like two of their best three guys missing nearly the entire season) falling short the playoffs would be a total disaster.

Ku: A playoff appearance is a must.

To make it a successful first year, it’d have to include at least a competitive first-round series that goes six or seven games. A second-round appearance is probably the reasonable expectation by Tom Gores and management.

For me, I would call this season a success if the Pistons forced a seven-game series in round one. A hard-fought series, that could’ve gone either way, and a possible second-round appearance would be ideal.

A lot of fans may just view keeping Blake Griffin and Reggie Jackson healthy as a successful season. And I wouldn’t blame them.

Steven: For Casey, who is inheriting a roster that did not make the playoffs last year, I would consider a playoff berth and anything above the seventh seed as a success.

Next: Pistons hire Malik Rose as assistant general manager

I predict 45 wins, which would’ve given the Pistons the sixth seed this year.

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