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Detroit Pistons: Improved, But So Is Central Division

By David Hughes

Apr 13, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) works against Detroit Pistons guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (5) during the second half at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 109-97. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 13, 2015; Cleveland, OH, USA; Cleveland Cavaliers forward LeBron James (23) works against Detroit Pistons guard Kentavious Caldwell-Pope (5) during the second half at Quicken Loans Arena. The Cavs won 109-97. Mandatory Credit: Ken Blaze-USA TODAY Sports /
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Some might contest this point, but most would agree that the Detroit Pistons are a better team right now than they were at the end of the 2014-15 season. Sure, Greg Monroe is gone to division rival Milwaukee (more on the Bucks in a moment), but the roster now fits better with what head coach Stan Van Gundy is trying to accomplish in relation to style of play.

Let’s take a look at the projected starters, if the season were to begin tomorrow.

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PG Reggie Jackson
SG Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
SF Marcus Morris (Trade)
PF Ersan Ilyasova (Trade)
C Andre Drummond

Certainly not spectacular, but there are now players at positions 1-4 who are all capable jump shooters and can spread the floor. On the bench, Brandon Jennings presumably assumes the role as the sixth man, a role that could be suited for him well and prove to be fruitful for the Pistons. Jennings, of course, would have to buy in and be OK with backing up Jackson.

He appears to be all in, for now at least.

The possibility of Jennings coming off the bench and becoming the floor general and primary playmaker on the second unit is one that should excite Pistons fans, even if it has an expiration date that’s likely less than a year away with Jennings becoming a free agent at the end of next season.

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Joining Jennings as key cogs off the bench will be Jodie Meeks, rookie Stanley Johnson (currently eating in the Orlando Summer League), Anthony Tolliver, and the newly signed Aron Baynes. This could potentially be a team that goes 10 deep, and one that has plenty of perimeter shooting.

The Pistons, of course, do not function in a vacuum, and there are things going on around them in the Central Division. The Cleveland Cavaliers still have LeBron James and Kyrie Irving, and a newly committed Kevin Love.

They will be the heavy favorite in the Eastern Conference, and barring anything catastrophic, it’s hard to not just pencil them in as the East’s representative in the NBA Finals next June and feel great about it.

Behind the Cavs in the division (and East) are the Chicago Bulls, a team that will head into the season with a new coach, nabbing Fred Hoiberg from Iowa State. Chicago may take a step back defensively with Tom Thibodeau gone, but expect Hoiberg to open up things offensively for a talented bunch.

It’s unrealistic for Pistons fans to expect their team to compete with the Cavs and Bulls next season, and I think everyone is aware of that. A more apt measuring stick for 2015-16 would certainly be the Bucks and Pacers.

After poaching Greg Monroe from the Pistons, the Bucks have become a darling of sorts within the NBA’s national media. There’s a young coach in place who seems to be growing with his team in Jason Kidd.

They’ve also drafted most of their team. Simply, what’s taking place in Milwaukee is perceived to be organic, much like the team that we just saw won the NBA championship, with some slight differences.

Apr 23, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) dribbles the ball as Chicago Bulls forward Mike Dunleavy (34) defends during the first quarter in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 23, 2015; Milwaukee, WI, USA; Milwaukee Bucks forward Giannis Antetokounmpo (34) dribbles the ball as Chicago Bulls forward Mike Dunleavy (34) defends during the first quarter in game three of the first round of the NBA Playoffs at BMO Harris Bradley Center. Mandatory Credit: Jeff Hanisch-USA TODAY Sports /

Like everyone else, I like what Milwaukee’s doing, and think they have a decent shot at becoming contenders at some point with their current core. With that said, I’ve seen people talk about the Bucks as if they’re ready to contend in the East this coming season.

We have to realize that two of their three best players, Giannis Antetokounmpo and Monroe (who has never played on a team that won more than 32 games), haven’t ever proven themselves to be anything more than solid players in the NBA. Their assumed third-best player, Jabari Parker, is still almost a complete NBA unknown, having played in just 25 games last season.

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    • He will be able to score, yes, but can he be a top guy on legitimately good team? We have no clue.

    The Bucks are a shoo-in for the playoffs, but let’s slow down before we call this mostly unproven group contenders.

    The Pacers are a group whose complexion has completely changed, and we have no idea whether it’ll be for better or worse. Gone are David West and Roy Hibbert, the powerful forces inside who were both so instrumental in the most successful Pacers era of basketball since the Jermaine O’Neal/Jamaal Tinsley squads.

    Insert Monta Ellis, along with a healthy Paul George and George Hill.

    The Pacers held the 11th overall pick, their reward for having to deal with the stress of having their star player snap his leg in half during an exhibition game, and they used it on Texas center Myles Turner.

    Turner likely won’t be starting right away with veterans Ian Mahinmi and Lavoy Allen on the roster, but he’s clearly their long-term replacement for Roy Hibbert at center. Turner is a much more skilled center than Hibbert, and that contrast in styles is representative of the change in style of play that head coach Frank Vogel is trying to make.

    It’s unclear how well the shift in philosophy will work, as obviously it mostly hinges on Paul George being 100 percent and back to 2013-14 form. Regardless of where your fan loyalty lies, the thought of George and Monta Ellis playing at an up-tempo pace together for 82 games is an exciting one, and should be much better aesthetically than the bully ball of the Hibbert/West era.

    We’ll see if it’s reflected in the W-L column.

    Ultimately, the Pistons are probably going to be picked to finished dead last in the Central Division by just about every publication. Fortunately, you have me here to tell you that those don’t matter, unless they’re picking Cleveland and Chicago ahead of us, in which case you should take the predictions as 100 percent factual information.

    For now, the best case scenario is third place in the division, and Stan Van Gundy should be carried on a throne down Woodward Avenue if he manages to win a playoff series with this group.

    Next: NBA Finals History: Ranking The Last 50 Champions

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