Detroit Pistons: Season opener preview vs. Charlotte Hornets

The Detroit Pistons officially kick off the inaugural season at Little Caesars Arena Wednesday night. What should fans expect when the Pistons take the floor?

They’re baaack. The Detroit Pistons officially start the Little Caesars era tonight in downtown Detroit.

The Pistons are rolling out all the stops to welcome fans back to downtown. Festivities outside and inside the arena are planned for Wednesday’s season opener.

After the all the pomp and circumstance, the Pistons have a game to play against the Charlotte Hornets. The Pistons and Hornets met in the preseason, with Charlotte winning a 108-106 heartbreaker in Little Caesars Arena 18 days ago.

The Pistons did a great job early in the game controlling the tempo and manhandling the Hornets with defense. Detroit led most of the game before squandering the lead late in the fourth quarter and losing.

Tonight, two of the league’s premier big men will do battle on the hardwood.

In the season opener, coaches and fans alike will be looking to see how the Pistons mesh with new teammates and those returning from injury.

Will Andre Drummond continue shooting free throws at 80 percent? How much time will Luke Kennard spend on the court in tonight’s season opener? Will Avery Bradley‘s defensive mindset plays an important role?

All of these questions will be answered in 48 minutes of game time.

In the back of the Detroit Pistons’ minds, every coach, fan and player is wondering if the team can close the gap between the team and the playoffs. Last year, the squad missed the playoffs by exactly five games.

Tonight is not just about opening a new arena or kicking off a new season. Tonight is the first step on the road back to the All-Star game for Andre Drummond. It’s about restoring the team’s defensive identity. Most importantly, tonight could be the night the Detroit Bad Boys legend rises again.

According to Shawn Windsor of the Detroit Free Press, Drummond’s free throw form has improved so much over the summer that he’ll be a 50 percent free throw shooter or better.

Echoing Stan Van Gundy, Windsor also thinks fans should worry less about Drummond’s free throws and more about what he does well:

"“Stop worrying so much about Drummond’s free-throw percentage and focus on everything else he can do on the court. Because all those other areas are where he will push to make the All-Star team. Again. If you haven’t noticed,  Drummond lost 35 pounds this off-season. He also had surgery to clear his nasal passages. He looks quicker and in better shape. That will help his rebounding, his rim runs off the pick-and-roll, and his pick-and-roll defense on the perimeter. Drummond enters this season with a lot to prove. Here’s guessing he proves plenty.”"

The Pistons are hoping they can recreate the game they had against Charlotte two weeks ago with two changes.

Next: Detroit Pistons 5 keys to making the playoffs

One, they don’t lose any leads and two, when the final second ticks off the clock, the Pistons will have the lead.