Detroit Pistons: 5 bold predictions for 2017-18 NBA season
By Simon Smith
Following the disappointment of missing out on postseason action, here are five bold predictions for the Detroit Pistons in season 2017-18.
Last season was simply one to forget for the Detroit Pistons.
Having made a 12-win improvement in their second season under head coach Stan Van Gundy, the Pistons regressed noticeably in posting just 37 wins and failing to make the playoff race in the process.
The most noticeable difference was the absence of starting point guard Reggie Jackson from the lineup. Having had a career-year averaging 18.8 points and 6.2 assists per game in 79 games the season prior, Jackson played in just 52 games last season, with his numbers down across the board.
While not an elite shooter, Jackson’s absence further exacerbated the Pistons’ perimeter shooting woes. Jackson’s replacement in the starting lineup, Ish Smith, shot just 26.7 percent from 3-point range while starting 32 games for the season. Overall, the Pistons ranked 28th in the league in 3-point percentage, shooting at a just a 33.0 percent clip.
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In order to address this issue, the Pistons made important moves this offseason to hopefully rectify the problem moving forward. First of all, the Pistons sent forward Marcus Morris to the Boston Celtics in exchange for guard Avery Bradley. Regarded as one of the elite on-ball defenders in the league, Bradley narrowly missed selection to the NBA All-Defensive Team, having being selected to the First Team the previous season.
In addition to Bradley’s defense has been the growth in his offensive game, averaging a career-high 16.3 points per game, which included hitting at a 39.0 percent clip from long-range on 5.0 attempts per game.
In addition to Bradley, the Pistons signed guard Langston Galloway to a three-year, $21 million deal. A 6’2″ combo guard, Galloway will provide additional flexibility for coach Van Gundy, having shot at a 39.0 percent clip from downtown last season on 4.2 attempts per game.
Also, the Pistons have brought back stretch-4 Anthony Tolliver. Having played two seasons with the Pistons, Tolliver last year joined the Kings, and shot at an impressive 39.1 percent clip from 3-point range in 65 games last season.
So with some new faces on deck, and training camp just on the horizon, here are five bold predictions for the Pistons in season 2017-18.