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How Does Tony Snell Fit Into The Detroit Pistons’ Starting Lineup?

By David Borowicz

Detroit Pistons Tony Snell. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
Detroit Pistons Tony Snell. (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – MARCH 12: Tony Snell #21 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball down court during the first half of a NBA game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 12, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Sean Gardner/Getty Images)
NEW ORLEANS, LOUISIANA – MARCH 12: Tony Snell #21 of the Milwaukee Bucks dribbles the ball down court during the first half of a NBA game against the New Orleans Pelicans at the Smoothie King Center on March 12, 2019 in New Orleans, Louisiana. 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 Sean Gardner/Getty Images) /

Playoff experience

Aside from Griffin (seven playoff seasons) and Derrick Rose (six playoff seasons), the Pistons are a team that has tasted few successful regular seasons that resulted in postseason appearances. The Pistons have eight guys expected to be on the 2019-20 roster who have never made the playoffs or have only been once.

Snell joins the Pistons with five seasons of playoff experience, which would be the third most on the roster in the upcoming season behind Griffin and Rose. During that five-year period Snell has been able to advance deep into the playoffs with his teams making it to the Eastern Conference Semifinals twice and the Eastern Conference Finals once.

Related Story. How the Pistons can achieve a 50-win season. light

This experience in primetime will be crucial for the Pistons as players, coaches, and analysts alike all emphasize the way the game changes come the post season. Some teams may play nonchalantly through the regular season knowing that their team is tanking for lottery picks or, on the opposite end of the spectrum, teams can be playing so well that they can take it easy knowing they will still make it into the post season regardless. Come April all that changes.

Teams have worked the entire season to get to this point and are ready to empty the tank, leaving it all on the court in the hopes of winning the Larry O’Brien trophy. Players get more physical and the defense is picked up tremendously in comparison to the regular season. If a player is not acquainted to the more physically demanding game that is played during the postseason, they may not be able to perform to the best of their abilities. We will not anticipate having to worry about any drop off come April for Snell.

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