DETROIT PISTONS
Last season: 44 – 38
This season: 44 – 38
The city of Detroit needs all the good news it can muster, and the return of their NBA team to the playoffs following six years away was a huge relief. Sadly, they were fated to get steamrolled by the Cavaliers, which means the Pistons haven’t won a playoff game since 2007-08.
Undaunted, they are back with essentially the same crowd, and it’s a capable one. While losing point guard Reggie Jackson is painful, they can probably survive with a committee. Up front, Andre Drummond will put up huge rebounding numbers, and cost his team five games or so with his dismal free-throw shooting. Sophomore forward Stanley Johnson impressed last year, and will do so again. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is the Pistons’ version of Terrence Ross. Will he break out in his fourth season?
Tobias Harris is their “X-factor”. He’s a big-time talent who will be counted on as a primary scorer.
I like their depth and their size (their backup centres, Aron Baynes and Boban Marjanovic, could start for a lot of teams). When Jackson gets back, watch out.