Detroit Pistons: 3 takeaways from Game 4 loss vs. Bucks

1. Dwane Casey can make this work

Head coach Dwane Casey has a system on offense that he uses to break down opposing defenses. He adapted it this year by having Griffin operate as the primary ball-handler and offensive engine. The problem with it, and reason that the team wasn’t massively successful this year, is it didn’t have all of the pieces necessary to make it work. The Pistons needed more shooters, and they had just a couple of them.

They also needed a shot-blocking big that could challenge shooters when they drove to the rim. Detroit didn’t have a ton of frontcourt depth in general, especially after waiving former first round pick Henry Ellenson. In the playoffs, only Thon Maker played any consistent minutes outside of Griffin and Drummond in the frontcourt. This team just needs more around its star in Griffin to help make it all go, and it needs the right personnel for Casey’s system.

It took some time with the Toronto Raptors for everything to come together under Casey, but when it did, they were one of the best teams in the Eastern Conference. Casey and management need to come together this offseason to discuss what players they want to target and establish what their vision will be over the next few years. The bottom line though is Casey is showing through tough games like this that he can make this team successful; he just needs the right roster to do get there.