Just missing one piece... to be a top 3-5 team in east.

[Dre Drummond]

Seriously feels like we're missing a sharp shooting SG who also plays great D. I know its something we talked about before but we really need an elite shooter / defender at the SG spot. Afflalo , when motivated and hitting his shots is the perfect fit IMO.

Stuckey keeps missing those corner 3s and making stupid unforced turnovers and its killing out team. He is not rotation worthy IMO. KCP still makes poor decisions but he should get better with time.... but right now we really need a SG who can play great D and who can hit those corner threes and space the floor and we don't have that.

[ImHeisenberg]

Buddy, we're missing a hell of a lot more than one piece!

[DetroitDon15]

Seriously feels like we're missing a sharp shooting SG who also plays great D. I know its something we talked about before but we really need an elite shooter / defender at the SG spot. Afflalo , when motivated and hitting his shots is the perfect fit IMO.

Stuckey keeps missing those corner 3s and making stupid unforced turnovers and its killing out team. He is not rotation worthy IMO. KCP still makes poor decisions but he should get better with time.... but right now we really need a SG who can play great D and who can hit those corner threes and space the floor and we don't have that.

I am not sure what you are smoking but we are more than one piece away. Maybe it is time to stop smoking that icky sticky? We need a 3 and D guy, a legit back-up center, a upgrade at both back-court spots, an upgrade in the front office, and not to forget an upgrade in coaching. We look like an 8th seed who will get swept in the first round. Just getting to the playoffs hurts in the NBA. I'd rather tank than just make the playoffs.

[DetroitSho]

Seriously feels like we're missing a sharp shooting SG who also plays great D. I know its something we talked about before but we really need an elite shooter / defender at the SG spot. Afflalo , when motivated and hitting his shots is the perfect fit IMO.

Stuckey keeps missing those corner 3s and making stupid unforced turnovers and its killing out team. He is not rotation worthy IMO. KCP still makes poor decisions but he should get better with time.... but right now we really need a SG who can play great D and who can hit those corner threes and space the floor and we don't have that.

I am not sure what you are smoking but we are more than one piece away. Maybe it is time to stop smoking that icky sticky? We need a 3 and D guy, a legit back-up center, a upgrade at both back-court spots, an upgrade in the front office, and not to forget an upgrade in coaching. We look like an 8th seed who will get swept in the first round. Just getting to the playoffs hurts in the NBA. I'd rather tank than just make the playoffs.

The dramatics around here are a little too much. I actually agree with the OP, TO A VERY SMALL EXTENT. He said top 3-5, I'll just simplify this to a top 5 team in the east. There's really only 3 legitimate teams in the east right now while everyone else is figuring things out. What's been our biggest problems on the court?
-shooting
-defense
-rebounding
-turnovers

Now in a way, the first 3 are related to that 1 missing piece. The turnovers are a different story, that will have to come with time and getting used to each other. Although, we did take care of the ball pretty well against GS and they still wrecked us because of the first 3 issues. If we did have a SG who could really knock down shots off the catch and shoot that would make everyone's job easier. For whatever reason Chauncey ain't pulling the trigger on open kickouts, he's catching and hesitating then restarting the offense. If we had a catch and shoot guy, that would stretch the D and open it up inside to the drive and post up.

If said SG could also stop his man from getting into the paint the way they are now, that would stop our bigs from having to come off their man to help while leaving open drop offs to opposing bigs and O-rebounding chances for them as well.

Is NY, Brooklyn, Washington, Charlotte, Toronto, Atlanta and Cleveland really that much better than us that when we put it together there's still no way for us to get a 5th seed?

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[dVs33]

We're not getting into the top 4 in the east. We're just not.

I say we let KCP develop, Let jennings and the front court build some chemistry and hope for playoffs.

[DocRI]

We're not getting into the top 4 in the east. We're just not.

I say we let KCP develop, Let jennings and the front court build some chemistry and hope for playoffs.

^ And wasn't this ALWAYS the realistic plan for this year? Did anyone really expect championship contention considering we have so many new, and more importantly such young, key pieces?

The overreaction to getting blown out by Golden State has been ludicrous. Yes, we have issues; they're the issues we expected to have early in the season, and we have yet to lose to a team we were expected to beat. If the Pistons are around .500 at the all star break, we'll be positioned well to make a late season charge for a low playoff spot. We're going to be a much improved team in the second half of the season; that's just a fact of life when your team is still young, developing and learning on the job.

There's a term in boxing related to bringing along a young fighter — "levels of progression." It means, essentially, that you don't expect too much too soon and you bring him along slowly, but appropriately, so that you don't get your fighter in over his head while continuing his learning curve. For the Pistons this year, our appropriate "level of progression" is a low playoff seed and a first round exit; that would make the season a success and we'd continue to build from there in the years to come.

[E-Z]

The Pistons are not playing as a whole, not even as a sum of parts. However, you're suggesting the addition of another player? Okay.

[piston1423]

I get what the op is saying. I don't think we're just one piece away but having a good defensive/3pt shooting guard would help for sure. Having Arron Affalo and KCP would help our perimeter defense a lot. I seriously hope Stuckey continues to have a strong season so we can trade him for AA.

Jennings/Billups/Siva/Bynum
Affalo/KCP/Singler
Smith/Singler/Datome
Monroe/Smith/Jerebko
Drummond/Monroe/Harrellson

[Clarity]

Seriously feels like we're missing a sharp shooting SG who also plays great D. I know its something we talked about before but we really need an elite shooter / defender at the SG spot. Afflalo , when motivated and hitting his shots is the perfect fit IMO.

Stuckey keeps missing those corner 3s and making stupid unforced turnovers and its killing out team. He is not rotation worthy IMO. KCP still makes poor decisions but he should get better with time.... but right now we really need a SG who can play great D and who can hit those corner threes and space the floor and we don't have that.

Where do I start lol

1. We arent missing 1 piece.
2. We arent trading for Afflalo
3. Stuckey has been much better.
4. None of our non bigs can currently hit anything aside from KCP & Gigi for one half vs one opponent.
5. KCP hasnt played enough to make a comment like he makes poor decisions.
6. Oy vey

[MrBigShot]

We are one "major piece" away from becoming top 3-5 in the East. Sure. An average starter won't do it. If we acquire someone who is currently better than anyone on our roster, then perhaps we would be contenders.

Arron Afflalo would certainly help. Not sure how realistic that is.

[gusman]

This team hasn't had enough time to gel. Just look at the Brooklyn Nets.

[DCintheD]

Rondo is our missing piece...

Jennings, Stuckey, Jerebko, Bynum for Rondo and Gerald Wallace

Wallace's contract sucks but he will probly be included to get Rondo

Rondo, Chauncey, Siva
KCP, Singler
Smith, Wallace, Datome
Monroe, Mitchell, CV
Drummond, Harrelson

[Q00]

Actually, we are only 1.5 games away from being a top 3-5 team in the East right now, technically. lol

Honestly though, top 5-6 in the East was what we were projected to be by most analysts anyways, so I'm not sure we are even 1 piece away. With Chandler now out of the equation in NY, we should have the pieces right now to be top 5. Even though we've gotten off to a slow start, we are only 1.5 games out of the 4th seed, and the Knicks/Nets are both having issues as well, so the 5th seed is far from being out of the question this soon into the season.

I mean, look at the current playoff standings. 5 of the 8 teams in the playoffs are Charlotte, Philly, Boston, Atlanta, and Toronto. I'm not sold on any of those teams making it in at the end.

It almost seems like after all the tanking talk over the summer, the NBA has gone out of their way to make it look like these teams are not tanking by gifting them a bunch of early wins. So I think eventually we'll start to see these teams come back down, and teams like the Pistons, Nets, and Bulls start gelling and flip-flop the standings.

[joseph mamah]

Owner + GM + Coach + PG + backup PG/decent combo + veteran SG + starting SF + decent stretch 4 =




edit- I just read the "missing one piece" part before posting and I was thinking contention, in the weak east we probably are only a piece or two away from the 5-6th seed.

[Spider156]

Actually analysts projected us to miss the Playoffs by a couple of games. I expect us to be 6-8 seed. So far it seems that way. Last couple of games were NOT easy. Portland shouldn't have been a loss in my opinion. They should've tried harder. But three of the last four teams have been contenders. NOT Playoff teams but title contenders! I expect us to win on Friday. They better tear apart the Kings or I'm gonna start to really worry about this team.

[dVs33]

I just think too many people think it's like a video game out there.
We have so many new additions, including an entirely new system, we need to take a wait and see approach with this team. we need some realistic expectations and patience... immediately!!

[joseph mamah]

I just think too many people think it's like a video game out there.
We have so many new additions, including an entirely new system, we need to take a wait and see approach with this team. we need some realistic expectations and patience... immediately!!

I wasn't expecting much early on and was willing to have patience until Joe Dumass gave the most inefficient chucker in the league the green light when he should be telling him to feed the bigs.

I really don't care how many shots Jennings takes, and understand that hes going to have to take his share as long as they come within the flow of the offense (for the most part) if this team is going to be successful. its the shots hes taking and the fact that many times the ball doesn't leave his hands for multiple possessions in a row. after dealing with Stuckey and Bynum im just fed up with our 3 dribbles and a cloud of dust while everybody else stands around offense and it sucks we're probably going to be forced to watch it for another 3 years.

[DetroitSho]

Owner + GM + Coach + PG + backup PG/decent combo + veteran SG + starting SF + decent stretch 4 =




edit- I just read the "missing one piece" part before posting and I was thinking contention, in the weak east we probably are only a piece or two away from the 5-6th seed.

I'm glad you came back and edited your post because apparently others who think what the op said is so farfetched must've did the same thing and commented without reading.

I find it odd how his comments can get ripped to shreds, and all of the team's woes get brought up, but people ain't bringing up the fact that we're basically 1 game off of being what the op said RIGHT NOW.

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[Q00]

I just think too many people think it's like a video game out there.
We have so many new additions, including an entirely new system, we need to take a wait and see approach with this team. we need some realistic expectations and patience... immediately!!

I wasn't expecting much early on and was willing to have patience until Joe Dumass gave the most inefficient chucker in the league the green light when he should be telling him to feed the bigs.

I really don't care how many shots Jennings takes, and understand that hes going to have to take his share as long as they come within the flow of the offense (for the most part) if this team is going to be successful. its the shots hes taking and the fact that many times the ball doesn't leave his hands for multiple possessions in a row. after dealing with Stuckey and Bynum im just fed up with our 3 dribbles and a cloud of dust while everybody else stands around offense and it sucks we're probably going to be forced to watch it for another 3 years.

I think something got lost in translation for you. It didn't sound to me like Dumars told him he should never pass and just take every shot himself. I think he was just saying that 'if the offense is bogged down early, you don't have to wait until the 4th qtr to take over scoring. You don't have to keep trying to set everyone up, if its not working and you have good looks instead, take them.' (I'm just paraphrasing)

Remember those comments came right after the OKC and Portland games. Where he pretty much stayed away from scoring the first 3 qtrs, focusing all on setting everyone up, and the result was double-digit deficits. Then he takes over scoring in the 4th and nearly leads comeback wins in both. So its only natural for the Pistons to think maybe if he had started scoring more early, we would've won those games, and maybe he shouldn't be waiting quite so long to get himself involved. I think that's all Dumars/Jennings meant.

Don't overreact to this last game in that regard either. Him overdoing it early against GS was likely just because we were behind so early. It was no different than him trying to lead comebacks in the 4th against OKC/POR, it was just him trying to lead a comback in the 1st qtr instead because we were down 15 in a blink.

[hoophabit]

It hasn't been everything I hoped, but a number of my concerns are working out to the good. KCP hasn't found his stroke yet, but he doesn't look too slow or unathletic to make it in the league. Hard worker with adequate tools. Drummond doesn't look overmatched against 1st line guys, and is handling the increased minutes very well. Jennings only being able to get back just recently has slowed down the adjustment process for the whole team. It appears that the team might be better served if we gave more minutes to true small forwards, and used Smith there only when you get the LeBron/Carmello type matchups there. I don't get where so many have now determined that Cheeks doesn't know what he's doing. Guys are getting looks and the rotational stuff will work itself out.

There's no reason to assume that Dumars is done remaking this roster. What those moves might need to be will become more clear as the season progresses. I never expected the Pistons to contend this year. Maybe a lower half playoff berth if things were to go well.