Detroit Pistons: One thing to be worried about every Western Conference team

Some Hope

The next three teams are rebuilding or not quite there yet. These are three teams that Detroit needs to take care of if they want to have a decent record against the West.

Memphis Grizzlies

The Memphis Grizzlies have an interesting mix of exciting young talent like Ja Morant, Josh Jackson and Jaren Jackson Jr. but also sprinkle in a few vets like Joakim Noah, Jonas Valanciunas and Jae Crowder. Memphis not going to be great but they will play hard with a team full of guys trying to prove that they belong or still have it.

The biggest worry for Detroit is that they don’t match the Grizzlies’ energy. Detroit has more talent, but if they let up at all, Memphis will run them off the floor. Memphis is going to be one of the teams whose record doesn’t reflect how tough they are to play. If Detroit doesn’t match their energy, they lose.

Oklahoma City Thunder

The Thunder traded Paul George and Russell Westbrook, so they are obviously not the same team that won 49 games last year and finished sixth in the loaded Western Conference. The Thunder got a historic treasure trove of picks and Chris Paul for their two stars, so it probably won’t be long until GM Sam Presti has drafted the next three MVPs.

As for now, Detroit’s biggest worry is lengthy wing Danilo Gallinari. In addition to sounding like a delicious brand of spaghetti sauce, Gallanari can ball, averaging 20 points a game last season on 43.3 percent from three and 90.4 percent from the line. Gallanari is the type of long wing that the Pistons don’t have an answer for. Anyone they throw at him will be too short or slow to match Gallanari’s unique skill set at 6-foot-10. Detroit better hope Markieff Morris is up to the task, as they don’t really have anyone else that can stay with The Sauce.

Minnesota Timberwolves

The Minnesota Timberwolves have been rebuilding since Kevin Garnett left, but this is the year they hope they can break through and make the playoffs around star center Karl-Anthony Towns. Though KAT is considered by many to be the best young big man in the game, Drummond has absolutely eaten his lunch. Andre is 8-0 against KAT and has averaged more points, rebounds, steals and blocks, including a stat line of 31 points, 22 rebounds, 4 assists, 2 steals and 3 blocks in one of his best games as a professional. In other words, Towns does not concern me.

The Pistons’ biggest concern should be newcomer Jordan Bell. The 6-foot-9 forward is looking to have a breakout year after not getting much run with the Golden State Warriors. His numbers won’t jump out and he can’t score, but Bell does all of the little things and is the type of guy who could put up a double-double on putbacks and fast breaks. Detroit still lacks size at the wing, so forwards who can rebound will be a problem for them. They need to keep Bell off the boards and keep him from getting out in transition.