Pistons Off-season Improvement Plan

[Moses ShamMoses]

Pretty soon SVG and staff will meet with each player and give them a few key things each player needs to focus on in their offseason workouts. It could be developing a specific skill, conditioning, gaining strength etc. What are your top 2-3 things you think SVG will task each player with? I'll start.

KCP: 1. Continue to work on ball handling 2. Work on gaining a more consistent 3 point shot

Tobias: 1. Work on upper and lower body strength to be able to play PF and the post more effectively 2. Work on post game

Dre: 1. Free throws...nuff said 2. Work on/watch tape on post positioning (too often he starts his post move too far away from the basket)

What else you got?

[El Chivo]

Reggie improving his conditioing and playmaking when doubled/blitzed

[Arp590]

Reggie improving his conditioing and playmaking when doubled/blitzed

This. General play-making and passing ability for Reggie needs improvement. Plus 3 point shooting, he shot 16% from 3 in the playoffs and kind of fell of towards the end of the year.

KCP - Consistent 3 is the most important thing I think by far.

[BadMofoPimp]

Everyone but Drummond shoot 1,000 3 pointers every day.

Drummond to shoot 2,000 FT's every day.

[Moses ShamMoses]

Everyone but Drummond shoot 1,000 3 pointers every day.

Drummond to shoot 2,000 FT's every day.

but we don't want Drummond practicing bad habits so hopefully we hire a shooting coach...wait didnt want have one of those already?? Wouldn't know it.

[DETermination]

Dre should work with Rick Barry on that underhand free throw all off season lol

[Moses ShamMoses]

Dre should work with Rick Barry on that underhand free throw all off season lol

I would give Dre major props..even if it didn't really help, it shows he's all in

[BadMofoPimp]

Everyone but Drummond shoot 1,000 3 pointers every day.

Drummond to shoot 2,000 FT's every day.

but we don't want Drummond practicing bad habits so hopefully we hire a shooting coach...wait didnt want have one of those already?? Wouldn't know it.

Some players don't have solid technique but became great shooters with bad form. If Drummond just takes a million shots I bet he learns to beat 50% at least regardless of his form.

Sometimes, just having a Coach in your ear ain't gonna help that much because the coach will make you think way too much as opposed to just having your mind clear taking fluid shots. And, 2,000 shots a day may create a fluid mind clearing shot base.

[Moses ShamMoses]

Everyone but Drummond shoot 1,000 3 pointers every day.

Drummond to shoot 2,000 FT's every day.

but we don't want Drummond practicing bad habits so hopefully we hire a shooting coach...wait didnt want have one of those already?? Wouldn't know it.

Some players don't have solid technique but became great shooters with bad form. If Drummond just takes a million shots I bet he learns to beat 50% at least regardless of his form.

Sometimes, just having a Coach in your ear ain't gonna help that much because the coach will make you think way too much as opposed to just having your mind clear taking fluid shots. And, 2,000 shots a day may create a fluid mind clearing shot base.

I'm thinking he might need to just experiment with different styles of shooting and see what he feels most comfortable with...maybe its underhand, maybe its something where he bends his knees differently, maybe its shooting the shot over his head more, the possibilities are endless. Anybody remember the Jerry Stackhouse crouch on free throws? I've always though bending way down like that might help him.

[Timmaytime]

1. Work with Reggie and Harris defensively, they struggled a lot with switching and defending the PnR in the Cavs series.

2. Work on KCP's dribble-drive game. He's showed the ability to score off the dribble, let's see if he can get to the hoop.

3. DRE'S FREE THROWS

4. Work on stopping the ball on offense less

[Spider156]

Tired of the Drummond FT hate. Did you see him talk about it after the Playoffs ended? It's clearly obvious and he works on it every day. It's not something he can control. The league will take away the Beat the Drum and his mentality will improve just by knowing that he won't be fouled repeatedly. Work on help defense and shot blocking.

KCP just needs to work on handles and shot selection. He's got a good shot, just needs to choose them wisely and I think the Playoffs really showed what he could become.

Reggie needs better conditioning. I think he did a good job being doubled all series. He also needs to work on passing. He's definitely not good enough at passing to be the sole ball handler of the team. Also, his defense is garbage. Work on anticipation, study the game and tape. If next season he doesn't figure it out, you'll see me vouch to trade him. I don't care how good he is at driving. If he can't do it during the Playoffs, what's he good for then?

With that said, start Stanley Johnson because he's the only other play maker that can pass probably better than Reggie. Reggie just doesn't like to turn it over so hesitates on a lot of passes. Add it to his game and more things will open up. Add Stanley and the offense will flow even more dynamically.

Morris was really good for us this season. I'd probably just tell him to work more on passing the ball, making plays for others. He's got the rest down right.

Harris needs to work on his strength and pretty much every facet of the game. I think he's very versatile and hard work isn't a problem when it comes to Harris. Harris will be more and more efficient each year. That 3 pt shot NEEDS to be better than what it is right now. Needs to also work on help defense because he's pretty slow at it.

Bullock needs to become part of the regular season rotation. Give the man minutes.

Meeks should be used a trade chip. Trade Meeks and first round for Markieff. Pay Dellavedova lots of money to come here and play. Extend KCP while at it.

You know the best part about ALL of this is they're all super young and there's absolutely no doubt in my mind that every player will get better next season. Just sheer continuity and Playoff experience makes them better. Internal development? Man watch out league. Pistons are coming through!

[sfballa13]

Dre should work with Rick Barry on that underhand free throw all off season lol

If I am Dre i do whatever it takes to make my free throws even if it looks stupid or embarrassing

An extra 5-8 pts a game will make Andre and the media quickly forget his unorthodox FT shooting methods

[flow]

Tired of the Drummond FT hate. Did you see him talk about it after the Playoffs ended? It's clearly obvious and he works on it every day. It's not something he can control. The league will take away the Beat the Drum and his mentality will improve just by knowing that he won't be fouled repeatedly.

Very little will change with the new rule. You'll basically see the rule in the last 2 minutes become the rule for the entire game. And SVG wasn't playing Drummond in the last 2 minutes because teams will still find opportunities to foul him. Now he'll know that the only time he can get fouled is when he has or makes a play on the ball. Not sure how much of a help that will be mentally. I agree that we shouldn't expect Drummond to get any better at it. He works on it every summer with dedicated coaches. Practice does not always make perfect. Some things we just aren't good at regardless of our will. It's not going to stop being an issue, though.

[Scout Taron]

Tired of the Drummond FT hate. Did you see him talk about it after the Playoffs ended? It's clearly obvious and he works on it every day. It's not something he can control. The league will take away the Beat the Drum and his mentality will improve just by knowing that he won't be fouled repeatedly.

Very little will change with the new rule. You'll basically see the rule in the last 2 minutes become the rule for the entire game. And SVG wasn't playing Drummond in the last 2 minutes because teams will still find opportunities to foul him. Now he'll know that the only time he can get fouled is when he has or makes a play on the ball. Not sure how much of a help that will be mentally. I agree that we shouldn't expect Drummond to get any better at it. He works on it every summer with dedicated coaches. Practice does not always make perfect. Some things we just aren't good at regardless of our will. It's not going to stop being an issue, though.

I don't think the rule change will be that slight. The league wants to make a change to keep the time on their games down. Meaning, they need to create a solution where Hacking doesn't happen at all. They can't be having the long drawn out sequences.

[flow]

Tired of the Drummond FT hate. Did you see him talk about it after the Playoffs ended? It's clearly obvious and he works on it every day. It's not something he can control. The league will take away the Beat the Drum and his mentality will improve just by knowing that he won't be fouled repeatedly.

Very little will change with the new rule. You'll basically see the rule in the last 2 minutes become the rule for the entire game. And SVG wasn't playing Drummond in the last 2 minutes because teams will still find opportunities to foul him. Now he'll know that the only time he can get fouled is when he has or makes a play on the ball. Not sure how much of a help that will be mentally. I agree that we shouldn't expect Drummond to get any better at it. He works on it every summer with dedicated coaches. Practice does not always make perfect. Some things we just aren't good at regardless of our will. It's not going to stop being an issue, though.

I don't think the rule change will be that slight. The league wants to make a change to keep the time on their games down. Meaning, they need to create a solution where Hacking doesn't happen at all. They can't be having the long drawn out sequences.

If a guy has the ball or is fighting for the ball, he can get fouled. That's never going to change. They aren't going to completely change the game over this.

[Todd3]

1. Hire Rick Barry
2. Hire Rick Barry
3. Hire Rick Barry

[Todd3]

Very little will change with the new rule. You'll basically see the rule in the last 2 minutes become the rule for the entire game. And SVG wasn't playing Drummond in the last 2 minutes because teams will still find opportunities to foul him. Now he'll know that the only time he can get fouled is when he has or makes a play on the ball. Not sure how much of a help that will be mentally. I agree that we shouldn't expect Drummond to get any better at it. He works on it every summer with dedicated coaches. Practice does not always make perfect. Some things we just aren't good at regardless of our will. It's not going to stop being an issue, though.

I don't think the rule change will be that slight. The league wants to make a change to keep the time on their games down. Meaning, they need to create a solution where Hacking doesn't happen at all. They can't be having the long drawn out sequences.

If a guy has the ball or is fighting for the ball, he can get fouled. That's never going to change. They aren't going to completely change the game over this.

If they put in the option to decline fouls, it will eliminate it completely and won't change anything to the actual game.

If teams foul him fighting for post position or setting picks or on rebounds, just decline it if we're in the penalty, and it becomes just like if it was the first team foul and you reset the possession instead of FTs.

If they foul him with the ball while shooting, yeah you can't really stop a team from doing that, and he still has to improve for that reason, but you also don't have to run plays for him at that time if you don't want him shooting FTs.

So it would give the team with the poor FT shooter all of the control over when they want them shooting FTs or not, as opposed to now where the opponents dictates everything.

[flow]

I don't think the rule change will be that slight. The league wants to make a change to keep the time on their games down. Meaning, they need to create a solution where Hacking doesn't happen at all. They can't be having the long drawn out sequences.

If a guy has the ball or is fighting for the ball, he can get fouled. That's never going to change. They aren't going to completely change the game over this.

If they put in the option to decline fouls, it will eliminate it completely and won't change anything to the actual game.

If teams foul him fighting for post position or setting picks or on rebounds, just decline it if we're in the penalty, and it becomes just like if it was the first team foul and you reset the possession instead of FTs.

If they foul him with the ball while shooting, yeah you can't really stop a team from doing that, and he still has to improve for that reason, but you also don't have to run plays for him at that time if you don't want him shooting FTs.

So it would give the team with the poor FT shooter all of the control over when they want them shooting FTs or not, as opposed to now where the opponents dictates everything.

I'd be shocked if they inserted an option to decline fouls. That would alter the competitive nature of the game, particularly late in games. We're only talking about a handful of players to whom this issue even applies.

[ChuckVanBrown]

Obviously Drummond needs to improve his FT shooting form, but it seems his main problem is mental. There's a big difference from making FTs in an empty gym with a trainer, and making them in a noisy arena when the elephant in the room is you can't make FTs. Even if he improves his form, I question whether he can shoot consistently under pressure in an NBA game.

Sounds stupid (and I highly doubt it would even be considered), but I think it would be cool if they had a handful of dates in the offseason where Drummond would shoot free throws at the Palace, and they would allow fans to attend. It would work like an open practice, and the crowd can sit in the baseline section and make noise while Drummond shoots FTs. I could see it helping him get over the mental hump, and would be a good interaction with the fans and team. Again, I doubt Drummond and the front office would ever entertain such an idea, but at this stage if something can improve his FT percentage, it's worth exploring.

[Todd3]

If a guy has the ball or is fighting for the ball, he can get fouled. That's never going to change. They aren't going to completely change the game over this.

If they put in the option to decline fouls, it will eliminate it completely and won't change anything to the actual game.

If teams foul him fighting for post position or setting picks or on rebounds, just decline it if we're in the penalty, and it becomes just like if it was the first team foul and you reset the possession instead of FTs.

If they foul him with the ball while shooting, yeah you can't really stop a team from doing that, and he still has to improve for that reason, but you also don't have to run plays for him at that time if you don't want him shooting FTs.

So it would give the team with the poor FT shooter all of the control over when they want them shooting FTs or not, as opposed to now where the opponents dictates everything.

I'd be shocked if they inserted an option to decline fouls. That would alter the competitive nature of the game, particularly late in games. We're only talking about a handful of players to whom this issue even applies.

The NBA is changing it because it's lengthening games and the networks are complaining. Not to cater to a few players, and if it were only happening to a few players it wouldn't be an issue.

So they can't allow all the other off ball fouls to continue or it won't change anything.

Giving coaches the option to decline fouls is the only solution, and the NFL does it so this isn't a new concept.