The Detroit Pistons started off the season by winning four straight games which began to fill all of us Detroit fans with hope. Since then it’s been a roller coaster for Detroit Pistons fans.
Being a Detroit Pistons fan has been hard for the last few years and it’s hard to not automatically think “oh, here we go again”. But here are three reasons why you should keep your faith in the Detroit Pistons.
1. Blake Griffin
There are currently only three players in the NBA currently averaging at least 24 points, 10 rebounds and four assists per game: Giannis Antetokounmpo, Anthony Davis and our very own Blake Griffin!
Through the first 13 games Blake Griffin is currently one of 3 players in the entire NBA averaging at least 24 points, 10 rebounds, 4 assists. The other 2: Giannis and AD! (https://t.co/e8Txl8YVpf) pic.twitter.com/caJ8vVkT8R
— Ash Vanclay (@AussieAsh13) November 18, 2018
Blake Griffin is having a spectacular season so far and has won the Detroit Pistons several games basically by himself. He was also the first player this season to drop a 50-point game.
He is providing a huge amount of leadership for this Detroit Pistons team, which we saw evidenced in the first game of the season against the Brooklyn Nets.
One possession left for Brooklyn and they set up a Joe Harris three-pointer for the tie. Glenn Robinson III was late to rotate on his coverage, Harris’ shot missed but Blake Griffin had a chat to Robinson to make sure it wouldn’t happen again.
Blake is also proving to the NBA world that he hasn’t lost it. He’s demonstrated that he’s got some go to moves in the post, his three-point shot is sinking with regularity at 42.6 percent, and he’s going to the rim hard and finishing through contact without looking for it.
2. The record: 7-6
I don’t think anyone would argue with me when I say that the Detroit Pistons haven’t played their best basketball this season yet. This is good news.
The Pistons have gotten themselves a positive record and sixth in their conference and they haven’t even played their best basketball yet.
If we have a look at their 6 losses: Boston, Boston, Brooklyn, Philadelphia, Miami, Charlotte.
Boston is widely believed to be the most talented team in the East, and probably the 2nd most talented in the league.
After Brooklyn beat Detroit, they went on to beat both Philadelphia and Denver. Philadelphia is an upcoming team and widely tipped to be a top-four team in the East. Miami went on to beat the Spurs after beating the Pistons.
But realistically there are only two games in the schedule that they should’ve won. If we think back to the close wins they’ve had, they’ve shown progress on previous years by actually maintaining those close leads and closing out those games.
3. Andre Drummond
Andre Drummond is the only player in the league to be averaging 18+ points, and 16 rebounds per game. I have no hesitation that Andre Drummond is the best rebounder to have ever played in the NBA so far, and that is absolutely critical for the Detroit Pistons.
Andre is currently keeping the Detroit offense alive and not from his own personal offense but his career high six offensive rebounds per game, creating second-chance shots and therefore more shot attempts for the Pistons.
This is evidenced by the Detroit Pistons sitting 9th in the league in defensive rating, but last in all shooting percentages and offensive rating, but somehow having a positive record.
He is also currently fourth in the league in defensive rating, second in total rebound percentage, first in rebounds per game, and first in offensive rebounds this season.
While he currently sits eighth in active players in offensive rebounds, and 70th in the total NBA/ABA!