The Detroit Pistons will finally begin preseason play on Wednesday night when they visit the Oklahoma City Thunder. Tipoff is slated for 8 p.m. EST.
Fans clamoring for the return of Detroit Pistons’ basketball will get their wish, albeit in exhibition form.
The Pistons begin their preseason schedule in Oklahoma City against the Thunder on Wednesday night. Tipoff is scheduled for 8 p.m. at Chesapeake Energy Arena.
Unfortunately, the game won’t be televised. But the Thunder will provide a live stream via their mobile app. The Pistons’ flagship station, 97.1 FM The Ticket, has the radio broadcast.
But for now, let’s talk basketball.
Detroit enters this game with plenty of buzz. There’s a new sheriff in town with Dwane Casey, who’s been adamant that Detroit’s offensive strategy will have a different approach.
Beginning with his introductory press conference, Casey has stressed the importance of 3-point shooting and the subsequent spacing it provides. The Pistons averaged 28.9 field-goal attempts from beyond the arc last season, which ranked 16th in the NBA. Expect that average to climb this year.
It goes without saying that Andre Drummond will play a major role in this department. No, he won’t be shooting 3-pointers at a high volume. But his new-found freedom is uncharted territory for the center and his teammates.
#Pistons Dwane Casey said they will work to get a rotation established in preseason, but he'd like to have a steady starting group and second group.
— Rod Beard (@detnewsRodBeard) October 2, 2018
According to Rod Beard of the Detroit News, Casey is hesitant to release any information on lineups or minutes allocation.
Keith Langlois of Pistons.com also reports that Detroit’s offensive playbook is quite thin at the moment. So, as it usually goes with preseason games, take everything you see (or hear, in this case) with a grain of salt.
Beard’s tweet above indicates that Casey is still in the process of developing a depth chart. That’s understandable, given the several new faces on this Pistons’ roster.
It’ll also take time for tenured players like Drummond and Reggie Jackson to adjust from Stan Van Gundy’s four-out, one-in offense, to Casey’s that plays at a quicker pace.
Detroit faces a Thunder team that finished among the top ten in offensive (seventh) and defensive (ninth) rating last season.
MVP point guard Russell Westbrook is a one-man fast break. Pair him alongside of small forward Paul George, and Oklahoma City boasts two of the better pure scorers in the game. Defensive specialist Andre Roberson and pick-and-roll finisher Steven Adams both excel in their given roles.
But in reality, Wednesday’s contest means very little. Rarely is the preseason an indicator of what is to come.
At the very least, it’s just nice to have basketball back.