Staff predictions for the Detroit Pistons’ 2018-19 season

Before the Detroit Pistons begin their 2018-19 season on Wednesday, it’s time to look at Piston Powered’s staff predictions.

The Detroit Pistons will open their 71st NBA season against the Brooklyn Nets on Wednesday at Little Caesars Arena.

But before the Dwane Casey era tips off, our staff here at Piston Powered predicted the team’s record, playoff fate, Most Valuable Player, and Most Improved Player.

Contributors are listed in alphabetical order, based on their last name.

Andrew Brewster

Twitter: @IamBrewster
Team record: 45-37
Playoffs: Yes. Unless both Blake Griffin and Reggie Jackson get injured, this is a playoff team. I think Griffin and Andre Drummond will play much better this year after a summer of preparation. I also think the team did a much better job bracing themselves in case Jackson gets hurt, with the introduction of Jose Calderon and Bruce Brown.
Team MVP: Andre Drummond
Most Improved Piston: Stanley Johnson

Christopher Frost

Twitter: @FROST_A_SPARTAN
Team Record: 47-35
Playoffs: Yes. I think a healthy year of Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond will be a formidable challenge for teams in the East. With the Pistons looking to shoot 30-40 threes a game, if teams double down in the post, it’ll give Detroit more opportunities from outside. I believe Dwane Casey’s confidence in his team, and ability to use any lineup to jump-start their energy, will be a huge asset.
Team MVP: Andre Drummond
Most Improved Piston: Stanley Johnson

Travis Gibbs

Twitter: @TravisGibbs75
Team Record: 48-34
Playoffs: Yes. The Pistons will make the playoffs this season because their key players finally stay healthy. Detroit’s bench production will be much better with Ish Smith at point guard, as well as getting Jon Leuer back.
Team MVP: Andre Drummond
Most Improved Piston: Langston Galloway

Rickey V. Gillam

Twitter: @Mr_Shourite
Team Record: 45-37
Playoffs: Yes. I believe they’ll grab one of the bottom-four playoff seeds.  Reggie Jackson’s health is paramount to the Pistons’ success. The big three of Blake Griffin, Andre Drummond, and Jackson should give Detroit enough star power in the top-heavy Eastern Conference.  Also, with Dwane Casey at the helm, I envision continued growth from within and modest improvement from last season.
Team MVP: Reggie Jackson
Most Improved Piston: Stanley Johnson

Ku Khahil

Twitter: @KuKhahilNBA
Team Record: 46-36
Playoffs: Yes. The Detroit Pistons will make the playoffs. A full off-season with Blake Griffin, Andre Drummond, and Reggie Jackson will pay off. Along with improvements from Luke Kennard and Stanley Johnson. Dwane Casey’s enforcement of shooting more threes will win this team more games than last year, as well.
Team MVP: Blake Griffin
Most Improved Piston: Stanley Johnson

Ben Lanza

Twitter: @BenJamminLanza
Team Record: 43-39
Playoffs: Yes. The Pistons should comfortably make the playoffs in the East this year with a 43-39 record. A full season of Griffin and Drummond should get them into the playoff picture, and a healthy Reggie Jackson certainly won’t hurt. Adding the reigning Coach Of The Year will help these guys mesh.
Team MVP: Blake Griffin
Most Improved Piston: Andre Drummond

Jeffrey MacCowan

Twitter: @jmaccowan1
Team record: 42-40
Playoffs: Yes. As long as the team stays healthy, for the most part. Especially Griffin and Drummond. Those two bigs working together for a full season will be a force to be reckoned with.
Team MVP: Blake Griffin
Most Improved Piston: Luke Kennard

Martin Mansour

Twitter: @ImMartinHi
Team record: 45-37
Playoffs: Yes. The Eastern Conference is probably at its easiest. The team was 12-25 without Reggie Jackson last season; and 27-18 with Reggie Jackson.
Team MVP: Blake Griffin
Most Improved Piston: Glenn Robinson III

Brandon Marlow

Twitter: @SauceMarlow
Team Record: 44-38
Playoffs: Yes. With how weak the Eastern Conference is at the moment, the playoffs should be well within reach for the Pistons. The roster is solid on paper, and if guys like Andre Drummond, Stanley Johnson, and Luke Kennard continue growing alongside Dwane Casey as head coach, a return to post-season action should be in their future.
Team MVP: Andre Drummond
Most Improved Piston: Reggie Jackson

Joye Pruitt

Twitter: @joyethewriter
Team Record: 40-42
Playoffs: Yes. It’s not hard to make the playoffs in the Eastern Conference. With Reggie Jackson, Andre Drummond and Blake Griffin on the floor from season’s start, the Pistons will have an opportunity to hit the ground running. Detroit will not seed in the top-half of the conference, but will meddle around seeds six through eight by the end of the season.
Team MVP: Reggie Jackson
Most Improved Piston: Stanley Johnson

Josh Sklare

Twitter: @doublej222
Team Record: 40-42
Playoffs: Yes. As a seventh or eighth seed. I think Dwane Casey will coach this team to the playoffs. They have the talent to be a playoff team. How far will they go? I doubt more than a first-round exit, but I see Detroit as a potential playoff team no doubt.
Team MVP: Andre Drummond
Most Improved Piston: Luke Kennard

Nathan Umali

Twitter: @NathanUmali94
Team Record: 45-37
Playoffs: Yes. This season may start off rough with the players trying to build chemistry with themselves and coach Dwane Casey. But the Pistons’ on-paper talent is surely worth of at least an eighth seed. Health and team chemistry will be the big questions, but there’s no reason the Pistons can’t aim to achieve home-court advantage in a weak Eastern Conference.
Team MVP: Blake Griffin
Most Improved Piston: Glenn Robinson III

Ash Vanclay

Twitter: @AussieAsh13
Team Record: 47-35
Playoffs: Yes. The Detroit Pistons would’ve made playoffs last season with a healthy Reggie Jackson. This year, with a full season of Blake Griffin, and continued improvement under a brand new and very well-regarded coach, they’ll make the playoffs.
Team MVP: Blake Griffin
Most Improved Piston: Stanley Johnson

Brenden Welper

Twitter: @BrendenWelper
Team record: 42-40
Playoffs: Yes. This is assuming Reggie Jackson and Blake Griffin remain healthy. They’re too talented to miss out on the NBA’s second season. Dwane Casey implemented a modern offensive philosophy in Toronto, and had great success. Detroit lacked pace and space under Stan Van Gundy. That changes with Casey, as the Pistons return to the playoffs.
Team MVP: Reggie Jackson
Most Improved Piston: Langston Galloway

Eddie Zilincik

Twitter: @eddiezilincik
Team Record: 45-37
Playoffs: Yes. A 45-37 record in this year’s Eastern Conference will be good enough to help the Pistons make the playoffs for only the second time this decade. With a big three of Andre Drummond, Blake Griffin, and Reggie Jackson in a wide open conference (that is seemingly the worst it’s been in recent history) the Pistons should find themselves in the 4-6 seed range. This season is, of course, all based on the ability of Griffin and Jackson to stay healthy and on the court.
Team MVP: Blake Griffin
Most Improved Piston: Luke Kennard

Staff predictions by the numbers

The average number of wins predicted by our staff was 44.3.

Our contributors came to a consensus (15-for-15) on whether or not the Detroit Pistons will make the playoffs. Every single one of them answered “Yes.”

Blake Griffin received the highest number of votes for Detroit Pistons’ MVP. The vote tallies: Blake Griffin, (7); Andre Drummond, (5); Reggie Jackson, (3).

Stanley Johnson received the highest number of votes for Most Improved Piston. The vote tallies: Stanley Johnson, (6); Luke Kennard, (3); Langston Galloway, (2); Glenn Robinson III, (2); Andre Drummond, (1); Reggie Jackson, (1).