Detroit Pistons: Dwane Casey challenged Jerami Grant to improve in this area

Jerami Grant and the Detroit Pistons are preparing to tip-off the regular season this week and Dwane Casey is hoping for more from his team leader.

Jerami Grant had a breakout season for the Detroit Pistons last year, averaging 22.3 points per game and coming up just short in the Most Improved Player voting. He expects the Pistons to make the playoffs this season, but for that to happen, they will need him to improve in one area in particular.

Grant is symbolic of the modern power forward who can defend all over the floor and who doesn’t really on post play to get many of his points.

But there is one area where Grant lacks and that is rebounding. Rebounding is going to be a big issue for the Detroit Pistons this season, as they are undersized at center, so will need everyone else on the team to pitch in, including Jerami Grant.

Detroit Pistons: Coach Casey wants more rebounding out of Jerami Grant

Jerami Grant averaged 4.6 rebounds per game last season, which is pretty low for a power forward, even one that plays away from the hoop.

Grant’s rebounding average does not crack the top-100 for forwards. He ranks right in between Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (who is a guard listed as a forward for some reason) and Naji Marshall, an undrafted bench player for the Pelicans who rarely played last season.

Coach Casey took notice and said he is looking for more out of Grant in this area:

This is totally warranted, as a power forward getting fewer than five rebounds a game is not acceptable, even if he does spend most of his time on the perimeter.

A lot was put on Grant in terms of offense last season, so it makes sense that he wasn’t always able to bring it 100 percent on the boards, but the Pistons should have a more dynamic offense with Cade Cunningham, Killian Hayes and Kelly Olynyk on the perimeter, which should take some of the burden off Grant’s shoulders on that end.

With less offense to carry, Grant can focus on his rebounding, which needs to improve, as the Pistons have two undersized centers in Isaiah Stewart and Olynyk and are going to need an all-hands approach to rebounding to not get killed on the boards night after night.

Grant averaged just 3.8 rebounds in the preseason (in fewer minutes than he will normally play) which is probably why coach Casey is trying to light a fire under him.

Jerami Grant has the athletic ability to be a plus rebounder, so this just comes down to positioning and effort. Let’s hope Grant can help make up for the Pistons’ lack of size by finally rebounding his position more effectively.