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What to expect from Andre Drummond in Detroit Pistons playoff series

By Ku Khahil

NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 10: Andre Drummond #0 of the Detroit Pistons looks on during the game against the New York Knicks on April 10, 2019 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 10: Andre Drummond #0 of the Detroit Pistons looks on during the game against the New York Knicks on April 10, 2019 at Madison Square Garden in New York City, New York. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2019 NBAE (Photo by Brian Babineau/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Andre Drummond dominated the league the second half of the season for the Detroit Pistons. With Blake Griffin ailing, what can we expect from Drummond?

The Detroit Pistons will play their first playoff game since 2016 on Sunday against Giannis Antetokounmpo and the Milwaukee Bucks.

Blake Griffin is hopping into the playoffs on one leg, and the Pistons have no one to guard the Greek Freak since getting rid of arguably the best player to guard him, *cough* Stanley Johnson *cough*.

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With their likely All-NBA player ailing and such disadvantages on the defensive side of the ball, the Detroit Pistons will need Andre Drummond to completely dominate this series to even keep the series competitive.

Much has been made of Drummond’s play since suffering a concussion at the end of January. Since returning to the court on January 25th, Drummond is averaging 18.6 points, 16.5 rebounds, 1.9 steals, 1.8 blocks, with a true shooting percentage of 61.1.

Drummond was the main force behind the Pistons playoff push the second half of the season, and stepped up to the plate when his partner in crime was suffering.

If the Pistons want to even make this series competitive, they’ll need Drummond to play even better than he did during the second half of the season.

It’s going to be hard for Drummond to do so, however, because the opposing big man is Brook Lopez; a center who is shooting 36.5 percent on 6.3 attempts a game.

I would not have Drummond guarding Lopez, because it would take him away from the rim and make it hard for Drummond to dominate the glass. But, I don’t have much confidence in Dwane Casey to do something creative.

If Drummond indeed guards Lopez during this series, he’s gonna have to completely dominate the offensive glass. There’s no one on the Bucks that can stop Drummond from doing so, and with how great of a defensive team the Bucks are, second chance points from Dre may be the Pistons best source of offense.

Due to Griffin’s knee holding him back from being himself, I expect Drummond field goal percentage to be down a bit from trying to do more on offense than you’d want. But, I confidently expect Drummond to average a double-double this series and dominating on the offensive glass.

If Casey does something creative on defense, like putting Drummond on Giannis or Sterling Brown instead of Lopez, I can see Drummond getting at least 16 rebounds a game and being the rim protector he was to end the season.

If the Detroit Pistons want to steal a game or two, outside of prayer, Drummond is going to need to carry the load.

Next. The Pistons must win at least one game. dark

It’s possible Dre can get Detroit one game, but I don’t see much outside of that being possible.

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