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5 reasons to believe in the Detroit Pistons in 2019-20 season

By David Borowicz

LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 06: (L-R) Luke Kennard, Thon Maker and Andre Drummond pose court side at the NBA Summer League on July 06, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Cassy Athena/Getty Images)
LAS VEGAS, NEVADA - JULY 06: (L-R) Luke Kennard, Thon Maker and Andre Drummond pose court side at the NBA Summer League on July 06, 2019 in Las Vegas, Nevada. (Photo by Cassy Athena/Getty Images) /
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AUBURN HILLS, MI – MARCH 11: Derrick Rose #25 of the New York Knicks handles the ball against Reggie Jackson #1 of the Detroit Pistons during a game on March 11, 2017 at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images)
AUBURN HILLS, MI – MARCH 11: Derrick Rose #25 of the New York Knicks handles the ball against Reggie Jackson #1 of the Detroit Pistons during a game on March 11, 2017 at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, 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. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) /

1. Point Guard Depth

One major strength that the Pistons will have this season that is an improvement over the previous few seasons is their depth at the point guard position. With the signing of Derrick Rose and Tim Frazier as well as the drafting of Jordan Bone, the Pistons have themselves a core of four point guards that could all provide productive minutes when called upon.

In the previous season, if Reggie Jackson or Ish Smith were unable to play for any stretch of time, the team would collapse. Both Jackson and Smith were capable of performing well during their time on the court, however if any point guard other than those two were on the floor everything would go downhill.

To jog your memory last season the third string point guard was Jose Calderon. For the season, Calderon was a -13.5 in plus/minus and stated in a recent interview that if he does not receive another NBA contract that he will retire. Last season Pistons fans cringed whenever Calderon was forced to play for even a single minute.

Related Story. What's the future of the Pistons point guard position?. light

The season before that in 2017-18, our third string point guards were Jameer Nelson and Dwight Buycks. Since that season, neither Nelson nor Buycks has played a single NBA game.

In 2016-17 the third string point guard was Beno Udrih who has not played another NBA game since that season.

In 2015-16 the Pistons had Steve Blake who’s career ended after that season and Spencer Dinwiddie, whom the Pistons only allowed to appear in 12 games. I could continue to name more seasons however it is just more of the same.

For the last many season, point guard has been a weakness of the Pistons. This season appears to buck that trend. Both Jackson and Rose are players who are more than capable of handling starting point guard responsibilities with Frazier and Bone capable of providing quality backup minutes if need be.

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