Don’t Count The Detroit Pistons Out Yet

By Christopher Cruz | Feb 2, 2015

Jan 31, 2015; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons guard D.J. Augustin (14) dribbles the ball during the third quarter against the Houston Rockets at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pistons beat the Rockets 114-101. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

Brandon Jennings got injured a week ago after suffering a full tear to his Achilles tendon. But I wouldn’t count the Detroit Pistons out quite yet. Sure, they were buzzing; they were the Cinderella story that everybody wanted to see succeed, even if it was quietly.

Stan Van Gundy hasn’t had the easiest road through the NBA. He began as a head coach of the Miami Heat, where after a few successful seasons, was replaced by Pat Riley. He moved on to the Orlando Magic, leading to more successful season, including an NBA Finals run against the Los Angeles Lakers. He was fired from there as well, a scene which fans only joke about now.

So when Van Gundy became the head coach of Detroit, as well as the president of basketball operations, expectations were set pretty high.

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But the Pistons had an abysmal start to the season, starting 5-23. Then their luck changed, when they waived Josh Smith, in an effort to free up the often said conundrum of finding a place for Josh Smith amidst Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond. When that happened, it seemed as though the team were reborn. The Pistons went 12-3 for the next 15 games.

Then it happened.

Detroit then went on a four-game losing streak, losing the wonder that they once had. But should we count them out? Conventional wisdom seems to say yes. But I don’t think in this particular season that is the case. Two nights ago, the Pistons beat the Houston Rockets, in a game that was a high scoring one for them. Yes, Dwight Howard was out of the game because of his knee. But James Harden is still on that team, and he is still an MVP candidate.

The reason why they aren’t out of it is because they still have Andre Drummond and Greg Monroe. In the month of January, Monroe is averaging 16.9 points per game and 12.6 rebounds per game on 52 percent shooting. That is great numbers for a 6-11 power forward who is athletic and can make jump shots when called upon. But it is his post skills that really make him valuable. He has light feet and can move efficiently.

Andre Drummond is averaging 11 points and 13 rebounds per game. That means that Detroit has two big men who can go out on any night and get a double-double. That makes them strong, especially against other Eastern Conference teams who aren’t all that big.

One of the biggest issues that Drummond has is that he can’t shoot free throws at all. He is shooting 40 percent from the free throw line this season. He is looking to be another project that Van Gundy has to take under his wing, much like Howard was when the two were in Orlando.

But let’s not forget the biggest dark horse through all of this: D.J. Augustin. Augustin is averaging 11 points this month, but it hides some of the big games that he had, especially against some great opponents. Against the Dallas Mavericks, Augustin scored 26 points. Against the San Antonio Spurs, he scored 19. Against the Toronto Raptors he scored 35, and against Houston he scored 28. He is capable of big games, and can take over them if he has to.

Taking over for Jennings is no easy task, but the Pistons can rely on Augustin’s shooting ability which is much greater than Jennings was. It might be that Van Gundy tries to create an inside-out strategy in Detroit that he tried and succeeded with in Orlando.

All of this is on top of injuries to Kemba Walker who plays for the Charlotte Hornets, currently at eighth place. It wouldn’t be too farfetched to see them slip in the rankings because of the injury. They have nobody really who can step in his place. The Brooklyn Nets aren’t making too many waves as they try to figure out what to do with their lineup and the money that they keep shelling out every season for the luxury tax.

With the Pistons being only two and a half games back in the East, there is still ample cause for some hope.

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