Detroit Pistons: Player grades at the midseason point
By Duncan Smith
Player grades for the Pistons starters
In order to determine which players will qualify as starters, we’ll use the last game that the Pistons played before Jerami Grant missed time before the All-Star break. That game was a 110-107 loss to the Sacramento Kings.
Jerami Grant – B+
Previous A
Jerami Grant has continued to be a revelation for the Pistons, although he’s tailed off over the last few weeks. His shot hasn’t been falling, although some of his best games have come in the past month or so. Considering the heavy load he’s carried for the first time in his career, it stands to reason that he might struggle, and the All-Star break couldn’t have come at a better time for him.
Wayne Ellington – B
Previous – B+
Wayne Ellington has been at times a pure flamethrower for the Pistons this season. In fact, the biggest difference between games where they win and games they lose could be as simple as whether or not Ellington went nuclear from long range. He’s tailed off slightly but he should still have plenty of value as the NBA trade deadline nears.
Saddiq Bey – B
Previous – C+
That’s Eastern Conference Player of the Week Saddiq Bey to you, pal. Thanks to a 30-point, 12-rebound outing against the Boston Celtics where he went 7-of-7 from 3-point range, Bey was named POTW for the East a few weeks ago. He was the first Piston rookie to win this honor since Kelly Tripucka in 1982. He’s emerged as a beneficiary of Blake Griffin’s removal from the rotation and has been an absolute revelation.
Mason Plumlee – C+
Previous – D+
Perhaps no player has ever grown on me as quickly as Mason Plumlee in his short time with the Detroit Pistons. Between his high effort level and professionalism and his playmaking, it’s quickly become easy to see what Weaver saw in him this offseason. After years of Andre Drummond trying to be many things he isn’t, it’s been refreshing to see a center simply play his role and do his job to the best of his abilities.
Dennis Smith Jr. – B-
Previous – N/A
Dennis Smith Jr. got off to an atrocious start with the Pistons. He wasn’t in game-shape after only playing a few scattered minutes with the New York Knicks pre-trade, and he struggled mightily on the offensive end. The only hope he gave us was that his defense was miles better than advertised, and he’s kept that up as his time with the Pistons has gone on. Now, the offense seems to be coming around, and that makes his presence on this team all the more fascinating.