Ten Years of Detroit Pistons Basketball Reviewed
Record: 37-45 (10th in Eastern Conference)
Head Coach: Stan Van Gundy
Offensive Rating: 106.0 (24th in NBA)
Defensive Rating: 107.1 (8th in NBA)
Draft Additions:
Henry Ellenson (1st round,18th pick)
Michael Gbinije (2nd round, 49th pick)
Free Agent/Trade Additions:
Boban Marjanović
Depth Chart:
Point Guard: Reggie Jackson, Ish Smith, Beno Udrih
Shooting Guard: Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Darrun Hilliard, Michael Gbinije
Small Forward: Marcus Morris, Stanley Johnson, Reggie Bullock
Power Forward: Tobias Harris, Jon Leuer, Henry Ellenson
Center: Andre Drummond, Aron Baynes, Boban Marjanović
Best Players: Andre Drummond, Tobias Harris, Marcus Morris, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
Coming off of their first post-season appearance in seven years, the Detroit Pistons were optimistic going into the 2016-2017 season. The optimism was justified when the Pistons shot out of the gates to a good start of the season that was quickly derailed when the Pistons starting point guard Reggie Jackson suffered a bad right ankle sprain that would keep him out the majority of the season.
Ish Smith was tasked with keeping the Pistons playoff hopes afloat and while he did a good job the real issue lied at the backup point guard position now. With Smith being forced into playing with the starters full time that left Beno Udrih as backup point guard which is less than ideal and the Pistons suffered mightily when he played.
New additions Tobias Harris and Marcus Morris played great for the Pistons, establishing themselves as good starters in the NBA. Despite this, the Pistons simply could not overcome the injury to Jackson that left them with a lack of depth at the point guard position and finished the season off 37-45, which was good for 10th in the eastern conference. The hope was with a healthy Jackson next season that the Pistons could make a run and return to the playoffs.