The Detroit Pistons found themselves sitting at 21-27 a month ago, and the playoffs were looking bleak. They are now 29-31 and are the seventh seed.
One month ago after a loss to the Dallas Mavericks, the Detroit Pistons found themselves sitting at 21-27 and struggling to string some wins together.
The thought of making the playoffs was looking pretty bleak to many, and fans wanted the Pistons to make some major moves at the trade deadline.
Fans were asking for Reggie Jackson‘s head, we had fans saying Ed Davis was better than Andre Drummond (yes, really.), and we had a specific radio show entertaining the idea of trading Blake Griffin.
Thankfully, Ed Stefanski and the Detroit Pistons didn’t make any of those moves. Instead, they made some moves that saved them some money in the future and also kept them relevant in the playoff race.
They bet on Jackson’s play getting better, they knew the tandem of Griffin-Drummond was not the problem, and kept the season trucking along.
This has turned out to be absolutely the right decision by the Pistons front office.
Much has been made of Jackson’s improved play over the past month or so (click the link to view my article going into Jackson’s play). Along with Jackson, Drummond returned from concussion protocol on a mission, as he has been an absolute terror on both sides of the court.
It also helps that Dwane Casey has modified the offense in a way that sees Drummond rolling to the basket (click the link to see my article talking about the way Casey has changed the offense) and has Jackson running more pick and roll; which is what the core of this team was originally built on by Stan Van Gundy.
To give some quick context to this, Jackson is averaging 19.9 points, 5.2 assists to only 1.7 turnovers a game, and is shooting 49 percent from the field and 43 percent from beyond the arc over the past 12 games.
Since returning from concussion protocol (13 games), Drummond is averaging 21.5 points, 16.1 rebounds, 2.3 steals, 2.0 blocks, shooting 66 percent from the field and 67 percent from the free throw line.
The Pistons are 8-5 in these last 13 games, and are 7-2 in their last nine games.
After being in the 10th seed just a month ago and the playoffs looking more and more bleak, the Pistons are now in the 7th seed and have their sights on the sixth seed; which is currently occupied by the Brooklyn Nets, who are 1.5 games ahead of Detroit.
Casey and the Pistons are figuring this team out at the perfect time; it doesn’t hurt that Jackson, who was said by Arnie Kander to most likely not be at 100 percent till at least January, finally looks healthy.
The Detroit Pistons have built a two game lead on the ninth seed, and seem to be heading towards the playoffs.
After a roller coaster first half of this season, the Detroit Pistons are finally clicking and players are fitting into their correct roles.
Couldn’t have came at a better time.