Detroit Pistons: 3 takeaways from 2017-18 NBA preseason

2. Back to the Bad Boys of Detroit, back to defense

The championship teams of the past have one common thread — defense. Stan Van Gundy’s focus during the offseason centered on assembling a team with a defensive identity.

However, Rome wasn’t built in a day and building a legendary defense takes time as well. The Detroit Pistons’ youth is an asset in many areas, but it’s often a liability when it comes to defense.

The team’s immaturity leads to mindless mistakes. It’s a learning curve, but the Pistons are already leaps and bounds ahead of their defensive ability from last year.  Playing consistent defense gives the Detroit Pistons a reason to hope.

Once the Pistons are able to string together 48 minutes of strong defense, it will give them the ability to control games. That control will keep the Pistons in games they would not have been in last season. Even though they lost three preseason games, they a chance to win two of those three.

One of the players Van Gundy is depending on to shape the team’s defensive identity is Stanley Johnson. Van Gundy shared his thoughts on Johnson’s defensive role on the team with NBA.com.

"“I think now we have a chance to become an elite defensive team and Stanley’s a huge part of that,” Van Gundy said. “And then I think it’s for him to really find his offensive game and it takes some guys some time.”"

Johnson spent the offseason working on defensive mechanics and improving his all-around game. His play during the NBA Summer League showed just how much his game had improved and matured.

The team committed to crafting an identity centered around a tough defensive unit during a team meeting in Las Vegas. That commitment to defense along with the shooting prowess of new arrivals like Avery Bradley and Luke Kennard might be the difference in sitting at home watching playoff games and playing in them.