Around the ‘net: Best Detroit Pistons and NBA stories we’ve read this week

Piston Powered are committed to supporting local journalism. Here are our best Detroit Pistons and NBA reads of the week.

There’s a saying that a great writer is made by a better reader. Coming from a newspaper background, the importance of supporting local journalism can’t be stressed enough so we at Piston Powered are introducing a new feature – Around the ‘net.

The goal is to highlight the work of Vince Ellis, Rod Beard, James Edwards III, Keith Langlois and writers everywhere. For starters, it will be a weekly staple but as the season ramps up we’ll do it more frequently. As a result, we hope that you will support your favorite journalists by buying a subscription to their publication. (Digital subscriptions don’t cost very much.)

Without further ado, here’s the best of this week.

Supporting Local Journalism

Fraser’s Eberlein Drive back for another try at The Basketball Tournament – Matt Schoch, Detroit News
-Schoch does a good job with this TBT primer and giving history of the name “Eberlein Drive.” It also hits on several other Michigan connections in the tournament.

Here’s what experts are saying about Detroit Pistons offseason moves – Greg Levinsky, Detroit Free Press
-The commentary on Derrick Rose was entertaining.

An inside look at why Detroit’s NBA 2K League team is so bad – Bill Shea, The Athletic
-eSports continues to grow, in revenue and interest. Shea provides a good overview on all that’s happened with Pistons GT since its inception.

Predicting the Pistons 2019-20 depth chart and five thoughts surrounding it – James L. Edwards III, The Athletic
-Edwards III provides some great insight on what could happen during the regular season.

Offseason moves show Pistons more interested in complacency than competing – Steve Hinson, Detroit Bad Boys
-If you’re looking for optimism heading into the season, this isn’t the piece for you, but Hinson brings up some good points in his manifesto of Pistons mediocrity.

Piston Powered’s ICYMI

How the Detroit Pistons can achieve a 50-win season – Nicolas Henkel, Piston Powered
-Henkel points out how close the Pistons were to being an above .500 team. Will this year’s additions push them to a mark they haven’t seen in a decade.

More from PistonPowered

Ten years of Detroit Pistons basketball reviewed – David Borowicz, Piston Powered
-The 2010’s haven’t been kind to Pistons fans but Borowicz does a good job of breaking it down. You’re going to be inside with the heat this weekend so might as well see what he has to say.

Should the Detroit Pistons offer Andre Drummond a max contract in 2020? – Steven Bryant, Piston Powered
-It’s possible this is Drummond’s final year in the Motor City. This has been a hot topic on our social channels and website. Bryant offers his two cents.

Detroit Pistons claim power forward Christian Wood – Steven Bryant, Piston Powered
-Bryant breaks down what Wood has done in recent years and how it impacts the Pistons.

Around the NBA

NBA superstars who will be on trade watch by next season’s deadline – Dan Favale, Bleacher Report
-The six players are rather predictable. Surprisingly no Pistons make the list.

The Trailblazers secret weapon isn’t a secret anymore – Paolo Uggetti, The Ringer
-This is a really fascinating feature on Anfernee Simmons, who skipped college and sat the bench in Portland last year.

‘I don’t have an ego — it’s dead’: A conversation with Dwight Howard about what’s next for him and his career – Shams Charania, The Athletic
-Dwight Howard has grown up and this quote was telling, “Sometimes when you want to become who you want to be, you have to die within yourself. Once you learn that you have to give up yourself for the team, that’s when things flourish.”

Hopefully you enjoy this week’s edition of Around the ‘net. We’ll be back next week with more content to supplement your reading pleasure during the NBA dead period.