Pistons Links: Andre Drummond joins NBA legends and a little REGGIE JACKSON SATISFACTION

Pistons Drummond joins Kareem, Wilt with dominating start -- Detroit Free Press

After six games, Drummond is averaging 20.3 points and 20.3 rebounds for the Pistons (5-1).

But the stats don't tell the full story.

- His rebounding and scoring start through six games is the best since Wilt Chamberlain in 1970.

- Drummond joins Kareem Abdul-Jabbar and Chamberlain as the only players with three 20-point, 20-rebound games in the first six contests.

- He is one of three active players (Dwight Howard, Al Jefferson) with multiple 25-point, 25-point games. Drummond has three; the others have two each.

Drummond, 22, has been a rebounding machine since he entered the league.

But it now appears the defense and offense are starting to catch up.

Reggie Jackson, Detroit Pistons stun Trail Blazers -- The Oregonian

Everything was going the Blazers' way early in the fourth quarter, when it appeared they would cruise to their fourth victory in a row. They led 94-85 with 9:15 left and were having their way with the Pistons, shooting 64 percent from the field, including 44 percent from three-point range, while accumulating 22 assists on 34 made field goals.

Then Jackson got hot. Over the final eight minutes of the game, Jackson scored 26 points on 10 of 11 shooting, punishing the Blazers with slashing drives to the hoop, midrange jumpers and backbreaking three-pointers. His play propelled the Pistons to an are-you-kidding me 24-0 run in the fourth quarter, flipping a sure-fire Blazers victory into a Detroit slap across the face.

Five reasons for the Pistons hot start -- Detroit News

Pistons finally gave up 100 points -- but they scored a buck twenty for themselves.  The Pistons will win nearly all games when scoring that much.  This defense can straight up dominate when they want to, yet they must fight against any kind of flip-the-switch mentality creeping up.

Doing it with defense: Through their first five games, the Pistons rank third in the league, allowing just 92.2 points per game. They haven't given up 100 points and have defended better on the pick-and-roll, with the help of a more versatile group of power forwards.

Flexibility at the 4: After moving on from Greg Monroe at power forward last season, the Pistons have settled in with a combination of Ersan Ilyasova and Morris. Ilyasova (8.8 points, 4.4 rebounds) appears to be a defensive upgrade, drawing eight offensive fouls in five games, while adding much-needed outside shooting (40 percent on 3-pointers).

Having Ilyasova and Morris working from the outside has cleared space in the middle for Drummond, without losing much in terms of rebounding. With Anthony Tolliver coming off the bench, the Pistons get another outside-shooting big man who can play good defense.

NBA trends: Andre Drummond and Pistons ascending -- LA Times

This was also written before the Portland comeback game.

Drummond's ascent

The 2015-16 season has just begun but Detroit center Andre Drummond is a big reason why the Pistons, who haven't made the playoffs since 2009, won four of their first five games. Drummond has been tremendous, averaging 18.6 points and 19.0 rebounds.

Should Pistons fans worry the team didn't sign Drummond to a long-term extension before the Nov. 2 deadline? Answer: no. Drummond will still be a restricted free next summer, giving the Pistons the right of first refusal. Look for the 22-year-old to sign a long-term deal to stay in July, with a starting salary of about $21 million for the 2016-17 season.

Spurs writers weigh in on early NBA season -- My San Antonio

The most surprising player in the good category is Marcus Morris. In his two-plus seasons with Phoenix, he was known as the other twin, completely overshadowed by Markieff. Last season Marcus averaged only 25 minutes per game (31.5 for Markieff) and 10.4 points (15.3 for Markieff). Since a summer trade that sent him to the Pistons, he has been in Detroit's starting lineup and producing at a much higher level. Through his first three games he shot 47.7 percent and averaged 19.3 points per game.

Use that little extra hop in your step today to good use, people.  Jump over a car, run five miles, do whatever.  And let's see what happens tonight at Golden State.