Detroit Pistons: Predicting their most effective lineup

The Detroit Pistons are looking to get back into contention in the eastern conference. What lineup will pose as the biggest threat to opposing teams?

The Detroit Pistons have parted ways with some members from the 2017 roster this off-season. At the same time, they’ve added some new faces.

We saw former head coach Stan Van Gundy use a lot of different players in different spots after the team traded for Blake Griffin. A lot of different players played in different spots at different points throughout games.

The Pistons have a lot of versatility on their roster for the upcoming season. Guys like Langston Galloway, Reggie Bullock, and Bruce Brown can all play in different spots when needed to.

If you had the choice to build their most effective lineup, who would be in the five you select?

Point guard: Reggie Jackson

There’s no way around it with how important Jackson is to this team. We have seen each of the last two seasons crumble while he is out of the lineup.

Jackson averaged 18 points a game and was the team’s primary ball-handler the last time he stayed healthy throughout an entire season. The Pistons also were in the playoffs.

It’s no coincidence. Jackson has his haters and deserves plenty of criticism at times. However, he’s the spark plug for the Pistons when he’s in the lineup and they’re a much better team as well.

Jackson just needs to stay healthy this season and things will be fine.

Shooting guard: Luke Kennard

Kennard averaged about 20 minutes a night last season as a rookie. He was one of the best perimeter shooters on the team last season.

Kennard shot 41 percent from the three-point line last season. Kennard’s ability to shoot from 16 feet out to the three-point is something to take notice of as well.

This is generally an area that is considered inefficient in the analytics side of things in today’s game of basketball. Kennard shot 50 percent from that area on the floor last season.

He needs to get better at defending if he wants to be a bigger threat on the floor. The reason he’s in this lineup is because of how important spacing is going to be to Detroit’s success offensively this season.

Kennard floating around the perimeter while team’s compress defensively to try and contain what Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond are doing on the inside.

Small forward: Reggie Bullock

Bullock was one of the most improved players in the league last season. He averaged 11 points a game and was the second best three-point shooter in the NBA.

He took over the starting role at shooting guard once Avery Bradley was moved in the trade for Griffin right before last season’s trade deadline.

Bullock has the size (6-7, 205 lbs) to play small forward and has done so in the past. He brings the same dimension that Kennard does when thinking about how he fits into Detroit’s most effective lineup.

He’s a terrific spot-up shooter for the Pistons. He will reap the benefits of being around players like Drummond and Griffin. Jackson’s ability to penetrate and kick the ball out will only increase Bullock’s chances to do what he does best.

That’s shooting the rock.

Power forward: Blake Griffin

Griffin the Detroit’s most talented player. He did have a little bit of a challenge adjusting to the new elements after being traded.

That doesn’t mean he can’t be the guy he was in Los Angeles. New head coach Dwane Casey has talked about wanting to utilize Griffin in different ways during the moments he’s spoken to the media this off-season.

Griffin can be a giant threat to the opposition when he has shooters on the floor around him. He’s one of the best in the game with his back to the basket. His physicality and will to get to the rim is generally unmatched.

He’s become a much better passer and has improved in each of the last few seasons shooting the ball from the outside as well. Adding those tools to his skill set will just make him a much bigger threat.

Can he stay healthy? That will be the key.

Center: Andre Drummond

Drummond has received plenty of criticism over his time in Detroit. Let’s look at the facts.

He’s become a better free throw shooter. Drummond set a career high in rebounds this seasons as well as assists. Drummond continues to improve many different facets of his game that need to be pointed out.

The casual fan still seems to be stuck on his lack of free throw shooting. Drummond jumped from 39 percent to over 60 percent from the free throw line last season.

That’s an incredible jump. He’s been displaying his ability to knock down three-point jumpers during the off-season as well. The Detroit Pistons will be that much more of a threat if he becomes respectable from outside.

Let’s not forget what Drummond and Jackson have displayed in the pick and roll game. Lots of lobs and lots of dunks. They are a good tandem when both are healthy.