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Detroit Pistons season review: Jose Calderon

By Ku Khahil

DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 23: Jose Calderon #81 of the Detroit Pistons defends against Alex Len #25 of the Atlanta Hawks in the first half during an NBA game at Little Caesars Arena on December 23, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. 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. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - DECEMBER 23: Jose Calderon #81 of the Detroit Pistons defends against Alex Len #25 of the Atlanta Hawks in the first half during an NBA game at Little Caesars Arena on December 23, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. 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. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images) /
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The Detroit Pistons were forced to turn to their 37-year-old veteran point guard early in the season, and it did not go well.

Dwane Casey and the Detroit Pistons signed Jose Calderon last off-season as their third point guard. Calderon was brought to be a cool, veteran presence in the locker room, and had familiarity with Casey and the city of Detroit from his time on the Pistons in 2013.

No one thought that Calderon would be asked to be a part of the rotation, and many hoped they would not see Calderon in the rotation. In the Pistons first 16 games, Calderon appeared in 13 of these games.

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Calderon struggled mightily in these games, averaging just 1.5 points per game on  25 percent shooting from the field and 17 percent from deep. Calderon performed about as well as fans expected him to play, and it was a bit confusing to see him a part of the rotation.

It would only get worse for Pistons fans, as an injury to backup point guard Ish Smith on December 7th against the Milwaukee Bucks would launch Calderon in an even larger role. Smith would miss the next 20 games, forcing Calderon to play 18.8 minutes per game.

The Detroit Pistons went 5-15 in these games, as Calderon showed he had clearly fallen off the cliff. His porous defense and inability to hit any shots at all sunk the team during this entire stretch.

Calderon averaged 3.5 points and 3.7 assists per game while shooting 40 percent from the field and 23 percent from deep. He even shot a disturbing 50 percent from the free throw line.

After Smith returned on January 14th against the Miami Heat, Calderon was thankfully sent to the end of the bench. He went on to only appear in 14 games the rest of the season, mostly in garbage time averaging only 8.7 minutes a game.

In all, this was an extremely disappointing season for Calderon, and maybe his sign that his career may need to come to a close. He had performed well the season before for the Cleveland Cavaliers, but he showed zero semblance of that player this year.

At 37 years old, father time seems to have caught up to the Spainyard.

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His season averages would finish at 2.3 points, 2.3 assists, on career-low shooting percentages of 37 percent from the field and 24 percent from deep.

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