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Basketball Insiders Detroit Pistons Preview
Basketball Insiders addressed a number of angles in their Pistons season preview.
My only concern is that sometimes, when we see a glimpse of potential, we begin to expect too much, too quickly. Look no further than the New Orleans Pelicans and Washington Wizards. In other words, just because the Pistons won 44 games last year doesn't mean they're going to win 50 this year. The conference around them has gotten tougher and I expect the Pacers to rise up as the second-best team in the Central. After the Cavaliers and Pacers, though, I think the Pistons will be right there. They're a rising, middle-of-the-pack team in the East, and I am happy for Van Gundy and for the fans of the proud franchise.
Ish playing beside Reggie -- you think that could work? With a knock down wing shooter and probably Jon Leuer as the deep threat at the 'five spot' (sorry, forgive me, I do believe in the position-less NBA), then there does seem like some real potential with the Ish and Reggie pairing.
Top Playmaker: Ish Smith
The natural instinct would be to deem starting point guard Reggie Jackson as the team's top playmaker, but dig a bit deeper and you'll find that newcomer Ish Smith may be the better dime dropper in a very tight decision. Smith finished sixth in assist percentage (37) among players who appeared in at least 50 games last season, showing a knack for keeping teammates involved (Jackson finished 11th, LeBron James 14th). Smith will be entrusted to keep the offense flowing for the team's second unit and it wouldn't shock if Van Gundy plays him beside Jackson at times in order to allow the team's leading scorer to go to work.
Andre Drummond and franchise player talk
SB Nation's Jesus Gomez fell in love with the word yet really early on in the article, but he does make many solid points.
It's possible Drummond goes for hooks instead of trying to overpower opponents because he fears being fouled. Maybe he wants to master those moves instead of relying on explosiveness. Whatever the case, he cannot create his own offense consistently at this point. He assisted on just 4 percent of his teammates' buckets while on the court, and was assisted on over half of his own makes. Those are role player numbers.
Top 15 NBA point guards for 2016-17
Our Reggie guy makes the top 15, in front of the likes of Eric Bledsoe, Goran Dragic and papa Tony Parker.
Reggie Jackson and Paul George: A summer match made somewhere west of L.A.
With many NBA players so increasingly buddy-buddy with each other these days (many reasons why, but not important here), it makes it more difficult to dislike other players and teams, because if the players can stand each other then what the heck are a great deal of fans to feel (besides poor, which is what I feel at this moment after reading the below exchange).
Per Vince Ellis a few days ago:
George found a place west of L.A., but Jackson thought it was a bit too extravagant.
Jackson was surprised by the next development.
"I thought we were going to get a place around Marina Del Rey down south (of L.A.)," the Pistons point guard said Tuesday at the team's practice facility. "He hit me up and was like, ‘Yeah, let's get this spot.'
"I was like, ‘Nah, we ain't renting this.'
"Next thing I know, he is, ‘This is where we staying. I'm not renting that; I bought it.'
"I was like, ‘I'm not paying rent on that one,' but he said, ‘Nah, man, you good.'
"He was like, 'just come stay with me.' "
Safe (r) driving, Andre.
In case some of you missed Andre's freestyling video in the FanShots (courtesy mannie32) from about a week ago.
#SoFarGoneChallenge pic.twitter.com/AnSgMSq3we
— Andre Drummond (@AndreDrummondd) September 16, 2016
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Is it October YET?