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Detroit Pistons: Regular Season Grades – Centers

By Ti Windisch

Andre Drummond embodying the Pistons' regular season and powering through obstacles. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports
Andre Drummond embodying the Pistons' regular season and powering through obstacles. Mandatory Credit: Sam Sharpe-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 27, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) looks up before the game against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 27, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) looks up before the game against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Andre Drummond – B+

I wrote earlier this season about Drummond possibly becoming a superstar in the NBA. I still think that’s possible and like his game, but there are some major holes here too.

Season Age GS MP FG FGA FG% FTA FT% ORB DRB TRB AST STL BLK TOV PF PTS
2013-14 20 81 32.3 5.9 9.5 .623 4.0 .418 5.4 7.8 13.2 0.4 1.2 1.6 1.4 3.4 13.5
2014-15 21 81 30.6 6.0 11.7 .513 4.4 .387 5.3 8.2 13.5 0.7 0.9 1.9 1.5 3.5 13.7

Provided by Basketball-Reference.com: View Original Table
Generated 4/15/2015.

The table above showcases the good and the bad changes that we’ve all seen from Drummond since last season. In fewer minutes per game he’s taken more than two more shots per game, and is making far fewer of them. A full 10 percent drop in field goal percentage is pretty worrying, although it’s not apocalyptic.

This was his first season under Stan Van Gundy and Detroit had a rotating cast of characters around him, either due to trades or injuries. One promising sign is that Drummond’s field goal percentage did rise a little when Reggie Jackson joined the Pistons, up to about 54 percent. That’s still not up to his 2013-14 level, but it’s a step in the right direction.

In contrast to his shooting, Drummond has managed to keep his rebounding as good as it was last year. Although he snags offensive rebounds slightly less, his defensive rebounding has helped him to have a better total rebounds per game total. Drummond will lead the NBA in offensive rebounds for the second straight year, an impressive accomplishment for a 22-year-old center.

As I mentioned earlier, it seems like Drummond is going to play in every game this season for Detroit. That’s literally doing as much as possible for your team, and a big plus in my book. If you’re getting paid millions of dollars to play basketball, you should at least show up if you’re not injured. His perfect attendance reflects well on Andre.

Drummond’s blocks per 100 possessions and defensive rating have both increased slightly this season, giving him a slight plus in terms of defense. His improvement on that end of the floor helps to alleviate concerns about his offensive drop-off, but it certainly doesn’t completely remove them.

The final factor in my grade on Drummond’s year is his free-throw shooting. He somehow regressed from an already-terrible 41 percent all the way down to being a sub-39 percent foul shooter, an atrociously low number.

If Andre could sink his free-throws his points per game would shoot up, and defenses would have to adjust and play Drummond differently. Right now every team knows they can hack him if he’s going for a shot without worrying about giving up two points.

This grade is a little unfair because a lot of it is based on what I believe Drummond is capable of, so his stellar campaign last season actually cost him an A- this year. That speaks more towards what he should be able to accomplish next season than his struggles this season though. Even after some rough patches this season, I still think Drummond has that superstar potential. He just needs to make it happen.

Next: The 30 Best Shooting Guards of All-Time

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