Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond has put together two great performances in the preseason to this point. Will this type of play translate to the regular season?
The Detroit Pistons are 1-1 after their first two games of their preseason schedule. They won their first game 97-91 against the Oklahoma City Thunder. They lost their second game 117-93 to the San Antonio Spurs.
Head coach Dwane Casey has remained right about one thing through the first two games. We have seen a lot of different looks as far as personnel on the court.
Henry Ellenson has received a lot of time on the floor. Bruce Brown and Khyri Thomas have both been on the floor.
Reggie Jackson and Blake Griffin have yet to play in the preseason. It seems like they are just preserving their health for the regular season. The Pistons will need both of these guys for the marathon that is the NBA regular season.
Only one definitive starter has been playing significant minutes. That would be center Andre Drummond. He’s played outstanding to this point in the preseason.
Through two games, he’s averaging 24.5 points and 13 rebounds per game. Drummond scored 31 points and had 16 rebounds in the game against the Thunder.
One of Drummond’s criticisms over the years has been his inability to even get comfortable with his touch in the paint. That wasn’t the case on Wednesday night.
He shot 58 percent from the field and looked very comfortable around the rim. Drummond was very free-flowing in the pick and roll sets.
He’s still yet to show everyone the new and improve three-point shot. He’s missed all five of his attempts from outside.
Drummond proved to be the only productive member in their 117-93 loss to the San Antonio Spurs. He finished last night’s game with 18 points and ten rebounds.
Yes, I do understand that it’s just the preseason. The collective effort and urgency on the court isn’t what regular season will be like.
However, I do like what I’ve seen from Drummond to this point. He looks like he’s in great shape and he looks like he’s put a lot of work in during the offseason.
This Detroit Pistons basketball team will be that much better if they can get these types of performances from Andre Drummond all season.