If there is one thing we’ve learned this offseason about the Detroit Pistons, it’s that they are not afraid to start next season with players they scouted and drafted themselves. You look up and down the roster, and you see young guys who have had moderate success in the NBA. Guys who have come out of nowhere to play quality minutes on a playoff team. Guys who have had to earn every minute. The most obvious conclusion is that they are comfortable giving heavy minutes to players they have drafted or acquired. There hasn’t been a ton of turnover from last year’s team. That is rare in today’s NBA. They also had the chance to go after a couple of bigger names, but stood pat .
Pistons Taking Built, Not Bought Approach
Punch in the Gut
To be fair, the whole “Built Not Bought” approach was dealt a crushing blow when it was reported that Malik Beasley was in the midst of a betting scandal, which could all but end his NBA career. If they banned Jontay Porter for life, sadly, Beasley could be in the same category. Just as he was getting ready to sign a 3-year $42 million deal, news of the scandal broke. The Pistons showed poise and professionalism in how they handled that situation. That spoke volumes about the type of guys running this team. Although they had to know something was coming. there was no campaign against sources . No “we believe Malik is innocent”—you know, the usual PR stunt that has grown tiresome over the years.
The Future Looks Bright
Coming off last season’s playoff loss to the Knicks, there was a feeling there wasn’t as big a gap as previously thought. The Pistons were in the middle of the pack in the East, and those seeds almost felt interchangeable. They let J.B Bickerstaff do things his way, and it worked . No surprise there, as he has a special connection with his players, past and present. This season, the Pistons are letting teams know it’s the Cade Cunningham and Jaden Ivey show. They have surrounded them with a couple knockdown shooters and solid defenders. Beyond the first couple guys off the bench, the rest of the roster is still intact. That is a sign they are trusting their scouting and coaching to get the most out of those guys. Usually, it’s the opposite. The end-of-bench guys move from team to team to fill roster spots or appease the salary cap.
Defense Still Wins Championships… If You Have A Couple Playmakers
If you’re asking how a team bounced in the first round last year is supposed to move farther along this year without getting exponentially better, you are not alone. The Pistons have been quietly assembling this roster for a few seasons now. They are developing these players into what they need them to be: young, hungry players just excited to be in this position. I think it has worked well for the Pistons. They have some young guys who needed to be molded no matter what situation they were faced with. Players like Marcus Sasser , Ausar Thompson , Ron Holland II have been quietly sculpted to complement the shot creators they already have. Only time will tell if their decision to invest in these “raw” High ceiling players pays off.
Staying Healthy Paying Off
We all saw what happened to the Cleveland Cavaliers in the postseason. It was hard to watch. Multiple serious injuries that even “Spida” man himself couldn’t overcome. The Pistons stayed relatively healthy throughout the season, aside from Ivey and Isaiah Stewart missing significant time. Other young guys on the roster stepped up to help offset the injury bug. It is a part of sports, and this season will be no different.
The biggest obstacle to overcome is injured players. It changes lineups. Pairing guys who don’t belong together. Using two point guards in the backcourt. A center and power forward who are essentially the same player statistics-wise. Look for the Pistons to stay true to letting those young guys gut it out. If it isn’t working out, a trade can always be made. For now, it’s the Pistons’ time to show what they are capable of.
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