As the center for the Detroit Pistons, Andre Drummond has taken a lot of criticism from fans and media members during his time with this organization. Let’s start appreciating him a little more.
As a fan of the Detroit Pistons, I feel as though I take center Andre Drummond for granted. I’ve been a big time critic of him in the past.
He couldn’t shoot free throws. Drummond is lazy and has a terrible work ethic. He doesn’t play defense and just gobbles up rebounds because every one on the floor with him allows him to do that. I had every excuse in the book for why I didn’t like Andre Drummond.
Last night I focused in on his performance while watching the Pistons win 110-103 over the Cleveland Cavaliers.
What did he do? Drummond went out and scored 26 points and pulled down 22 rebounds.
Drummond has grabbed 20+ rebounds in a game 53 times in his career.
— Martin (@ImMartinHi) October 26, 2018
Since the 2009-10, Drummond has had the most 20 rebound games. (DeAndre Jordan: 52 times, Dwight Howard 51 times)
Drummond was drafted in 2012 and didn't get his first 20 rebound game until the 2013-14 season..
I was sitting there watching the game last night and it didn’t even feel like he had that kind of performance. That’s not meant as a shot at Drummond.
What I mean is that he does a lot of the things that go unnoticed. It could be compared to what an all-pro offensive linemen does in the NFL. You don’t really see what that specific player does until you go back and watch it again.
Drummond seemingly challenged the Cleveland Cavaliers for every rebound that could have gone either way. The way he positions himself and uses his strength allows him to do that.
This is a prime example of that. He was surrounded by three different players from Cleveland and managed to work and get the rebound. Drummond then put his body into Channing Frye and got the easy bucket at the rim.
Right now, Drummond’s biggest criticism is that he doesn’t exactly have the skill set of a center that stretches the floor with shooting yet.
That is something that he has been working on. It’s not transitioned to where it’s effective in a game but I believe it will get there. Many people forget that he’s still just 25 years old.
Offensively, he does a lot of great things that go unnoticed as well. He’s a fantastic pick and roll center. Drummond sets great screens and rolls off of them effectively which gets him a lot of lobs.
Seriously, how do you let a guy with that much size get away from you defensively? These are all the things that seemingly go unnoticed with Drummond’s game.
Nights where your starting center produces these types of numbers should never be ignored. What Andre Drummond does for the Detroit Pistons should not be ignored.
Through four games, he’s averaging 18 points and 17 rebounds. He’s scored at least 20 points and pulled down 20 rebounds in two games already this season. I believe there will be much more of that as the season progresses.
You just don’t see centers in the NBA putting up these types of numbers all the time. Let’s start to appreciate Andre Drummond a little more.