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Detroit Pistons: Way-too-early starting lineup projections

By Brenden Welper

DETROIT, MI - FEBRUARY 1: Blake Griffin #23 and Luke Kennard #5 of the Detroit Pistons high five during 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 and Luke Kennard #5 of the Detroit Pistons high five during 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) /
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Projected power forward: Blake Griffin

DETROIT, MI – MARCH 07: Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors defends against Blake Griffin #23 of the Detroit Pistons in the second half of an NBA game at Little Caesars Arena on March 7, 2018 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. The Raptors defeat the Pistons 121-119. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – MARCH 07: Pascal Siakam #43 of the Toronto Raptors defends against Blake Griffin #23 of the Detroit Pistons in the second half of an NBA game at Little Caesars Arena on March 7, 2018 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. The Raptors defeat the Pistons 121-119. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images) /

Here’s another no-brainer: Blake Griffin will start for the Pistons at power forward.

How do I know that? He is owed $31.8 million next season alone. You don’t bring a contract like that off the bench. But make no mistake, Griffin is more than deserving of his spot.

It isn’t every day (or every decade, for that matter) that the Pistons have a four-time All-NBA player on their roster. Griffin brings a certain component that the franchise has lacked for quite a while: stardom.

In 25 games with Detroit last season, Griffin averaged 19.8 points, 6.6 rebounds, and 6.2 assists per contest on 43 percent shooting.

Griffin’s most effective offensive play? His post-up, which he used on 23.3 percent of his possessions as a Piston. That translated into a 0.935 PPP for the 29-year-old, putting him in the 67th percentile.

The phrase “go-to scorer” is widely overused in the NBA. There are only a handful of players who can consistently get you a bucket in isolation. Griffin is one of those guys.

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