Detroit Pistons: 5 goals for Andre Drummond in 2017-18

1. Improve free throw shooting

A season removed from setting the NBA record for most free throws missed in a game, Andre Drummond and the Detroit Pistons are hoping he can hit the reset button.

Drummond shot 16-for-20 (80 percent) from the stripe during this preseason. In Toronto on Oct. 10, 2017, Drummond was perfect from the line, which gave his head coach Stan Van Gundy hope.

"“Shoot, he’s going to be shooting technicals for us.”"

Taking preseason results with a grain of salt, that kind of massive improvement is huge. Drummond has been referred to as the worst free throw shooter in NBA history, so if that free throw shooting is sustainable, that’s a huge deal.

Drummond has admitted in the past that some of his problems at the line are mental. After the team’ preseason game Tuesday night, he went into more detail:

"“The summer was more of a mental summer for me. More than drilling myself on shooting, it was more just getting myself mentally prepared for this season, mentally prepared to walk up to that line and shoot the same shot over and over again, whether it’s a miss or a make.”"

Drummond and the Detroit Pistons are positioned to make moves in the Eastern Conference.

Next: 30 reasons to be excited for the 2017-18 NBA season

Focusing on the aforementioned goals and staying consistent at the free throw line will help elevate the Pistons’ game. It will also give them a fighting chance in close games, something they haven’t had in recent years because of Drummond’s struggles from the line.