Biggest takeaways from Detroit Pistons training camp scrimmage

The Detroit Pistons closed training camp with an open scrimmage. Here is what we learned in a limited sampling of what’s expected in preseason.

Not every Detroit Pistons player looked good in Saturday’s open scrimmage, which closed training camp at Michigan State University.

But it isn’t as big of a concern that Luke Kennard didn’t hit shots or, as expected, Sekou Doumbouya doesn’t look like an immediate contributor. In fact, most 18-year-olds aren’t ready to play in the NBA.

The positives far outweigh the slights. The even-keeled Pistons beat writers appropriately detailed the Pistons scrimmage with impressive takes.

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Dwane Casey said not to make anything of the lineups and rotations for the scrimmage, or Monday’s preseason opener against the Orlando Magic. On Saturday he had the suspected starting lineup of Reggie Jackson, Bruce Brown, Tony Snell, Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond going up against Tim Frazier, Luke Kennard, Langston Galloway, Thon Maker and Markieff Morris.

Derrick Rose came off the bench for Frazier and received a loud ovation. Evidently, Rose brought intensity and was working the officials to get a travel call against his opponents. It’s exciting to see the intensity he plays with and him coming off the bench in the scrimmage is actually a good things to allow him to build the mindset for the regular season.

Morris and Sviatoslav Mykhailiuk are two that stuck out. Morris opened the scrimmage hitting a pair of three’s for the first two buckets of the scrimmage. He hit a third later. Mykhailiuk was noticeably improved as a shooter, making a long triple at the end of the first quarter and having several three’s that tickled the twine, if at all.

Doumbouya, the Pistons’ prized possession after being selected 15th overall, had an impressive stretch where he hit a trey, got to the rim for a layup, had an assist, turnover and then an impressive dribble-drive layup. Later, he showed his athletic ability during the youngsters dunk contest.

The most important takeaway is the Pistons were healthy throughout the week of training camp. But it should be emphasized that a bench unit that was already improved really impressed the beat writers.

As position battles play out through the preseason workouts and games, it’s worth noting that Christian Wood also left an impression that Maker didn’t capitalize on. This may be the battle that is most closely watched throughout the preseason as the Pistons search for their fourth big man.

Joe Johnson was noticeably absent from the writers’ acknowledgements. Don’t read into this until more information is available, however.

These are certainly encouraging signs from the conclusion of Pistons training camp. The scrimmage wasn’t at full speed, and it shouldn’t be to preserve health, but the first look is encouraging. Monday’s preseason game against Orlando will be more telling as we near meaningful Pistons basketball.