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IF Reggie is healthy again next season, we should keep the same team

Posted: Sat Apr 1, 2017 7:30 am
by Mr Peanut
So this probably won't be a popular opinion. But before you balk and laugh at me, hear me out.

The most important, and arguably only relevant, difference between this season and last season is Reggie Jackson's health. When he went down and then returned as a much lesser version of himself we were never going to truly compete for HCA in the East as a lot of the NBA community had expected us to. If you don't believe that's the principal difference and why we've been so poor this year, let's compare the team's main rotational players over the last two seasons:

Tobias Harris
2015/16: 33.4 MPG, 16.6 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.6 APG, 47.7% FG, 37.5% 3P, 91.1% FT, PER 18.2
2016/17: 31.4 MPG, 16.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.7 APG, 48.1% FG, 33.9% 3P, 85.0% FT, PER 16.7

Verdict: If you take into account playing a couple of minutes less per game, Tobias has largely had a similar season to his time last year with the Pistons. When you extrapolate his numbers out to per 36 he's actually a slightly better scorer, albeit shooting a bit less efficiently from the 3 point line.

Marcus Morris
2015/16: 35.7 MPG, 14.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 2.5 APG, 43.4% FG, 36.2% 3P, 74.9% FT, PER 12.7
2016/17: 32.9 MPG, 14.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 2.1 APG, 41.8% FG, 33.1% 3P, 78.6% FT, PER 12.6

Verdict: Similar to Harris, fractionally better scoring this season on slightly worse efficiency. But certainly his game doesn't seem to have regressed.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
2015/16: 36.7 MPG, 14.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.4 SPG, 42.0% FG, 30.9% 3P, 81.1% FT, PER 12.4
2016/17: 33.7 MPG, 14.1 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.2 SPG, 40.4% FG, 36.4% 3P, 83.1% FT, PER 13.2

Verdict: It's been fairly obvious to everyone that KCP has taken big strides since last season; while always a defensively strong player his scoring, particularly his 3-point shooting, has taken the next step this year. Also his playmaking (particularly when Reggie Jackson was injured) is evidently much improved.

Andre Drummond:
2015/16: 32.9 MPG, 16.2 PPG, 14.8 RPG, 1.5 SPG, 1.4 BPG, 52.1% FG, 35.5% FT, PER 21.2
2016/17: 30.1 MPG, 14.1 PPG, 14.0 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 53.4%, 39.2% FT, PER 21.3

Verdict: For all the criticism that Drummond has been subject to this season, his numbers haven't been bad. His rebounding is actually better than last season per 36 and his free throw shooting while still terrible is mildly improved. His PPG has probably suffered a little bit from Jackson not being 100% as he did set Drummond up a lot in the P&R. And while being rightly criticized for his defense, you could argue that a big part of that deficiency is secondary to Jackson's poor defense which puts Drummond in the spot of having to come and guard the opposing PG and leaving his man open (something we've seen countless times this season). Overall though, Drummond's regression doesn't seem to be anything significant that can't be explained by Jackson's poor health.

Stanley Johnson
2015/16: 23.1 MPG, 8.1 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.6 APG, 37.5% FG, 30.7% 3P, 78.4% FT, PER 8.7
2016/17: 17.2 MPG, 4.4 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 1.3 APG, 36.5% FG, 28.1% 3P, 66.7% FT, PER 7.6

Verdict: While SJ appears to have suffered a statistical regression by these metrics, defensively many would agree he has improved this year. And you could argue his scoring struggles could be attributed to lack of a clear role within the offense which is a fault of SVG. Overall, SJ has taken a bit of a step back but was never a significant difference maker within our winning team last season anyway which would explain our fall in the standings.

And finally:

Reggie Jackson
2015/16: 30.7 MPG, 18.8 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 6.2 APG, 43.4% FG, 35.3% 3P, 86.4% FT, PER 19.6
2016/17: 27.4 MPG, 14.5 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 5.2 APG, 41.9% FG, 35.9% 3P, 86.8% FT, PER 14.9

Verdict: It appears plainly obvious to everyone that Reggie is not the same player this season as last. He hasn't moved around the court the same since his return from knee tendinitis, getting to the line 40% less this season and struggling to stay in front of opposing teams PGs. He has been guilty of trying to be the same player he once was with a body that is less able and the team has often suffered because of it. This is a guy who we nicknamed "Mr 4th Quarter" last season, and often singlehandedly led us to victory in close games. And it has been obvious we've lacked a closer in many of the same close games this year.


Before this season started the consensus projections for our team, which had just won 44 games and then signed a few rotational players to shore up a terrible bench, was about 48-50 wins and competing for HCA. As it stands today we have six games left and only 35 wins to our name, sitting 11th in the East. Looking at the player stats above the only player that seems worse this season is Reggie Jackson, and the most obvious explanation affecting his play is his knee injury as it would be hard to find another explanation as to how he could go from borderline all-Star play last year to a borderline team cancer now.

This off-season, if we re-sign KCP and Baynes walks, our roster projects to be:

Drummond/Boban
Harris/Leuer/Ellenson
Morris/SJ
KCP/Gbinije
Reggie/Ish

With free agents and our likely lottery pick yet to be determined. So I table the idea, if Reggie takes the off-season to rest and recover, perhaps has surgery if required, and returns as the same 2015/16 RJ next season, is there any reason to make any significant changes to this team at all? Shouldn't they still be expected to compete for HCA in the East again like they were this season?

I know we're all thoroughly disappointed with the team this year, probably moreso than any season in the last 10 years due to the lofty expectations most of us had, but I think it's shortsighted to blow up what is a promising and still young core due to arguably our team's most important player not being himself this year due to a bung knee.

Now tear me apart.

Re: IF Reggie is healthy again next season, we should keep the same team

Posted: Sat Apr 1, 2017 7:39 am
by JohnReese
No way, Drummond and Reggie out asap. We want defense!

Re: IF Reggie is healthy again next season, we should keep the same team

Posted: Sat Apr 1, 2017 8:03 am
by BloodNinja
JohnReese wrote:No way, Drummond and Reggie out asap. We want defense!


Yes please! enough of these empty stats and bad fit guys we've had over the past few years - Smith, Drummond, Reggie.

Re: RE: IF Reggie is healthy again next season, we should keep the same team

Posted: Sat Apr 1, 2017 9:17 am
by Pharaoh
Mr Peanut wrote:So this probably won't be a popular opinion. But before you balk and laugh at me, hear me out.

The most important, and arguably only relevant, difference between this season and last season is Reggie Jackson's health. When he went down and then returned as a much lesser version of himself we were never going to truly compete for HCA in the East as a lot of the NBA community had expected us to. If you don't believe that's the principal difference and why we've been so poor this year, let's compare the team's main rotational players over the last two seasons:

Tobias Harris
2015/16: 33.4 MPG, 16.6 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.6 APG, 47.7% FG, 37.5% 3P, 91.1% FT, PER 18.2
2016/17: 31.4 MPG, 16.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.7 APG, 48.1% FG, 33.9% 3P, 85.0% FT, PER 16.7

Verdict: If you take into account playing a couple of minutes less per game, Tobias has largely had a similar season to his time last year with the Pistons. When you extrapolate his numbers out to per 36 he's actually a slightly better scorer, albeit shooting a bit less efficiently from the 3 point line.

Marcus Morris
2015/16: 35.7 MPG, 14.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 2.5 APG, 43.4% FG, 36.2% 3P, 74.9% FT, PER 12.7
2016/17: 32.9 MPG, 14.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 2.1 APG, 41.8% FG, 33.1% 3P, 78.6% FT, PER 12.6

Verdict: Similar to Harris, fractionally better scoring this season on slightly worse efficiency. But certainly his game doesn't seem to have regressed.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
2015/16: 36.7 MPG, 14.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.4 SPG, 42.0% FG, 30.9% 3P, 81.1% FT, PER 12.4
2016/17: 33.7 MPG, 14.1 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.2 SPG, 40.4% FG, 36.4% 3P, 83.1% FT, PER 13.2

Verdict: It's been fairly obvious to everyone that KCP has taken big strides since last season; while always a defensively strong player his scoring, particularly his 3-point shooting, has taken the next step this year. Also his playmaking (particularly when Reggie Jackson was injured) is evidently much improved.

Andre Drummond:
2015/16: 32.9 MPG, 16.2 PPG, 14.8 RPG, 1.5 SPG, 1.4 BPG, 52.1% FG, 35.5% FT, PER 21.2
2016/17: 30.1 MPG, 14.1 PPG, 14.0 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 53.4%, 39.2% FT, PER 21.3

Verdict: For all the criticism that Drummond has been subject to this season, his numbers haven't been bad. His rebounding is actually better than last season per 36 and his free throw shooting while still terrible is mildly improved. His PPG has probably suffered a little bit from Jackson not being 100% as he did set Drummond up a lot in the P&R. And while being rightly criticized for his defense, you could argue that a big part of that deficiency is secondary to Jackson's poor defense which puts Drummond in the spot of having to come and guard the opposing PG and leaving his man open (something we've seen countless times this season). Overall though, Drummond's regression doesn't seem to be anything significant that can't be explained by Jackson's poor health.

Stanley Johnson
2015/16: 23.1 MPG, 8.1 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.6 APG, 37.5% FG, 30.7% 3P, 78.4% FT, PER 8.7
2016/17: 17.2 MPG, 4.4 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 1.3 APG, 36.5% FG, 28.1% 3P, 66.7% FT, PER 7.6

Verdict: While SJ appears to have suffered a statistical regression by these metrics, defensively many would agree he has improved this year. And you could argue his scoring struggles could be attributed to lack of a clear role within the offense which is a fault of SVG. Overall, SJ has taken a bit of a step back but was never a significant difference maker within our winning team last season anyway which would explain our fall in the standings.

And finally:

Reggie Jackson
2015/16: 30.7 MPG, 18.8 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 6.2 APG, 43.4% FG, 35.3% 3P, 86.4% FT, PER 19.6
2016/17: 27.4 MPG, 14.5 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 5.2 APG, 41.9% FG, 35.9% 3P, 86.8% FT, PER 14.9

Verdict: It appears plainly obvious to everyone that Reggie is not the same player this season as last. He hasn't moved around the court the same since his return from knee tendinitis, getting to the line 40% less this season and struggling to stay in front of opposing teams PGs. He has been guilty of trying to be the same player he once was with a body that is less able and the team has often suffered because of it. This is a guy who we nicknamed "Mr 4th Quarter" last season, and often singlehandedly led us to victory in close games. And it has been obvious we've lacked a closer in many of the same close games this year.


Before this season started the consensus projections for our team, which had just won 44 games and then signed a few rotational players to shore up a terrible bench, was about 48-50 wins and competing for HCA. As it stands today we have six games left and only 35 wins to our name, sitting 11th in the East. Looking at the player stats above the only player that seems worse this season is Reggie Jackson, and the most obvious explanation affecting his play is his knee injury as it would be hard to find another explanation as to how he could go from borderline all-Star play last year to a borderline team cancer now.

This off-season, if we re-sign KCP and Baynes walks, our roster projects to be:

Drummond/Boban
Harris/Leuer/Ellenson
Morris/SJ
KCP/Gbinije
Reggie/Ish

With free agents and our likely lottery pick yet to be determined. So I table the idea, if Reggie takes the off-season to rest and recover, perhaps has surgery if required, and returns as the same 2015/16 RJ next season, is there any reason to make any significant changes to this team at all? Shouldn't they still be expected to compete for HCA in the East again like they were this season?

I know we're all thoroughly disappointed with the team this year, probably moreso than any season in the last 10 years due to the lofty expectations most of us had, but I think it's shortsighted to blow up what is a promising and still young core due to arguably our team's most important player not being himself this year due to a bung knee.

Now tear me apart.

Well done!

You've explained yourself very well & I personally admire your courage for posting this knowing that the negativity is stronger than ever.

Regardless of the reaction you'll get here mate well done.

Remember that leaders don't follow the crowd

Sent from my SM-J110F using RealGM mobile app

Re: IF Reggie is healthy again next season, we should keep the same team

Posted: Sat Apr 1, 2017 9:48 am
by JoeDumars
Mr Peanut I appreciate the analysis - only disagreement is Drummond. I'll pull the article and paste when I have a chance but in short, the Pistons are a noticeably worse defensive team and rebounding team when he's on the floor. Can't blame Reggie for that. Will that change? Maybe a better question is: will that change HERE?

Re: IF Reggie is healthy again next season, we should keep the same team

Posted: Sat Apr 1, 2017 10:32 am
by duncansmithnba
I'm in total agreement. If Reggie is healthy, we run it back one more time.

Re: IF Reggie is healthy again next season, we should keep the same team

Posted: Sat Apr 1, 2017 10:36 am
by Blomberg
This is a good post and a realistic take. I just hope it wouldn't be the case because I absolutely hate our current roster. It's just that we don't have a lot options, so it is what it is. We're gonna roll out the same crap team with minor changes next October.

Re: IF Reggie is healthy again next season, we should keep the same team

Posted: Sat Apr 1, 2017 10:58 am
by PistonsSince85
Mr Peanut wrote:So this probably won't be a popular opinion. But before you balk and laugh at me, hear me out.

The most important, and arguably only relevant, difference between this season and last season is Reggie Jackson's health. When he went down and then returned as a much lesser version of himself we were never going to truly compete for HCA in the East as a lot of the NBA community had expected us to. If you don't believe that's the principal difference and why we've been so poor this year, let's compare the team's main rotational players over the last two seasons:

Tobias Harris
2015/16: 33.4 MPG, 16.6 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.6 APG, 47.7% FG, 37.5% 3P, 91.1% FT, PER 18.2
2016/17: 31.4 MPG, 16.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.7 APG, 48.1% FG, 33.9% 3P, 85.0% FT, PER 16.7

Verdict: If you take into account playing a couple of minutes less per game, Tobias has largely had a similar season to his time last year with the Pistons. When you extrapolate his numbers out to per 36 he's actually a slightly better scorer, albeit shooting a bit less efficiently from the 3 point line.

Marcus Morris
2015/16: 35.7 MPG, 14.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 2.5 APG, 43.4% FG, 36.2% 3P, 74.9% FT, PER 12.7
2016/17: 32.9 MPG, 14.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 2.1 APG, 41.8% FG, 33.1% 3P, 78.6% FT, PER 12.6

Verdict: Similar to Harris, fractionally better scoring this season on slightly worse efficiency. But certainly his game doesn't seem to have regressed.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
2015/16: 36.7 MPG, 14.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.4 SPG, 42.0% FG, 30.9% 3P, 81.1% FT, PER 12.4
2016/17: 33.7 MPG, 14.1 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.2 SPG, 40.4% FG, 36.4% 3P, 83.1% FT, PER 13.2

Verdict: It's been fairly obvious to everyone that KCP has taken big strides since last season; while always a defensively strong player his scoring, particularly his 3-point shooting, has taken the next step this year. Also his playmaking (particularly when Reggie Jackson was injured) is evidently much improved.

Andre Drummond:
2015/16: 32.9 MPG, 16.2 PPG, 14.8 RPG, 1.5 SPG, 1.4 BPG, 52.1% FG, 35.5% FT, PER 21.2
2016/17: 30.1 MPG, 14.1 PPG, 14.0 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 53.4%, 39.2% FT, PER 21.3

Verdict: For all the criticism that Drummond has been subject to this season, his numbers haven't been bad. His rebounding is actually better than last season per 36 and his free throw shooting while still terrible is mildly improved. His PPG has probably suffered a little bit from Jackson not being 100% as he did set Drummond up a lot in the P&R. And while being rightly criticized for his defense, you could argue that a big part of that deficiency is secondary to Jackson's poor defense which puts Drummond in the spot of having to come and guard the opposing PG and leaving his man open (something we've seen countless times this season). Overall though, Drummond's regression doesn't seem to be anything significant that can't be explained by Jackson's poor health.

Stanley Johnson
2015/16: 23.1 MPG, 8.1 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.6 APG, 37.5% FG, 30.7% 3P, 78.4% FT, PER 8.7
2016/17: 17.2 MPG, 4.4 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 1.3 APG, 36.5% FG, 28.1% 3P, 66.7% FT, PER 7.6

Verdict: While SJ appears to have suffered a statistical regression by these metrics, defensively many would agree he has improved this year. And you could argue his scoring struggles could be attributed to lack of a clear role within the offense which is a fault of SVG. Overall, SJ has taken a bit of a step back but was never a significant difference maker within our winning team last season anyway which would explain our fall in the standings.

And finally:

Reggie Jackson
2015/16: 30.7 MPG, 18.8 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 6.2 APG, 43.4% FG, 35.3% 3P, 86.4% FT, PER 19.6
2016/17: 27.4 MPG, 14.5 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 5.2 APG, 41.9% FG, 35.9% 3P, 86.8% FT, PER 14.9

Verdict: It appears plainly obvious to everyone that Reggie is not the same player this season as last. He hasn't moved around the court the same since his return from knee tendinitis, getting to the line 40% less this season and struggling to stay in front of opposing teams PGs. He has been guilty of trying to be the same player he once was with a body that is less able and the team has often suffered because of it. This is a guy who we nicknamed "Mr 4th Quarter" last season, and often singlehandedly led us to victory in close games. And it has been obvious we've lacked a closer in many of the same close games this year.


Before this season started the consensus projections for our team, which had just won 44 games and then signed a few rotational players to shore up a terrible bench, was about 48-50 wins and competing for HCA. As it stands today we have six games left and only 35 wins to our name, sitting 11th in the East. Looking at the player stats above the only player that seems worse this season is Reggie Jackson, and the most obvious explanation affecting his play is his knee injury as it would be hard to find another explanation as to how he could go from borderline all-Star play last year to a borderline team cancer now.

This off-season, if we re-sign KCP and Baynes walks, our roster projects to be:

Drummond/Boban
Harris/Leuer/Ellenson
Morris/SJ
KCP/Gbinije
Reggie/Ish

With free agents and our likely lottery pick yet to be determined. So I table the idea, if Reggie takes the off-season to rest and recover, perhaps has surgery if required, and returns as the same 2015/16 RJ next season, is there any reason to make any significant changes to this team at all? Shouldn't they still be expected to compete for HCA in the East again like they were this season?

I know we're all thoroughly disappointed with the team this year, probably moreso than any season in the last 10 years due to the lofty expectations most of us had, but I think it's shortsighted to blow up what is a promising and still young core due to arguably our team's most important player not being himself this year due to a bung knee.

Now tear me apart.


Lol.

Svg is that you? Go eat another twinkie.

Re: RE: Re: IF Reggie is healthy again next season, we should keep the same team

Posted: Sat Apr 1, 2017 11:21 am
by Pharaoh
PistonsSince85 wrote:
Mr Peanut wrote:So this probably won't be a popular opinion. But before you balk and laugh at me, hear me out.

The most important, and arguably only relevant, difference between this season and last season is Reggie Jackson's health. When he went down and then returned as a much lesser version of himself we were never going to truly compete for HCA in the East as a lot of the NBA community had expected us to. If you don't believe that's the principal difference and why we've been so poor this year, let's compare the team's main rotational players over the last two seasons:

Tobias Harris
2015/16: 33.4 MPG, 16.6 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.6 APG, 47.7% FG, 37.5% 3P, 91.1% FT, PER 18.2
2016/17: 31.4 MPG, 16.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.7 APG, 48.1% FG, 33.9% 3P, 85.0% FT, PER 16.7

Verdict: If you take into account playing a couple of minutes less per game, Tobias has largely had a similar season to his time last year with the Pistons. When you extrapolate his numbers out to per 36 he's actually a slightly better scorer, albeit shooting a bit less efficiently from the 3 point line.

Marcus Morris
2015/16: 35.7 MPG, 14.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 2.5 APG, 43.4% FG, 36.2% 3P, 74.9% FT, PER 12.7
2016/17: 32.9 MPG, 14.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 2.1 APG, 41.8% FG, 33.1% 3P, 78.6% FT, PER 12.6

Verdict: Similar to Harris, fractionally better scoring this season on slightly worse efficiency. But certainly his game doesn't seem to have regressed.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
2015/16: 36.7 MPG, 14.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.4 SPG, 42.0% FG, 30.9% 3P, 81.1% FT, PER 12.4
2016/17: 33.7 MPG, 14.1 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.2 SPG, 40.4% FG, 36.4% 3P, 83.1% FT, PER 13.2

Verdict: It's been fairly obvious to everyone that KCP has taken big strides since last season; while always a defensively strong player his scoring, particularly his 3-point shooting, has taken the next step this year. Also his playmaking (particularly when Reggie Jackson was injured) is evidently much improved.

Andre Drummond:
2015/16: 32.9 MPG, 16.2 PPG, 14.8 RPG, 1.5 SPG, 1.4 BPG, 52.1% FG, 35.5% FT, PER 21.2
2016/17: 30.1 MPG, 14.1 PPG, 14.0 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 53.4%, 39.2% FT, PER 21.3

Verdict: For all the criticism that Drummond has been subject to this season, his numbers haven't been bad. His rebounding is actually better than last season per 36 and his free throw shooting while still terrible is mildly improved. His PPG has probably suffered a little bit from Jackson not being 100% as he did set Drummond up a lot in the P&R. And while being rightly criticized for his defense, you could argue that a big part of that deficiency is secondary to Jackson's poor defense which puts Drummond in the spot of having to come and guard the opposing PG and leaving his man open (something we've seen countless times this season). Overall though, Drummond's regression doesn't seem to be anything significant that can't be explained by Jackson's poor health.

Stanley Johnson
2015/16: 23.1 MPG, 8.1 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.6 APG, 37.5% FG, 30.7% 3P, 78.4% FT, PER 8.7
2016/17: 17.2 MPG, 4.4 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 1.3 APG, 36.5% FG, 28.1% 3P, 66.7% FT, PER 7.6

Verdict: While SJ appears to have suffered a statistical regression by these metrics, defensively many would agree he has improved this year. And you could argue his scoring struggles could be attributed to lack of a clear role within the offense which is a fault of SVG. Overall, SJ has taken a bit of a step back but was never a significant difference maker within our winning team last season anyway which would explain our fall in the standings.

And finally:

Reggie Jackson
2015/16: 30.7 MPG, 18.8 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 6.2 APG, 43.4% FG, 35.3% 3P, 86.4% FT, PER 19.6
2016/17: 27.4 MPG, 14.5 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 5.2 APG, 41.9% FG, 35.9% 3P, 86.8% FT, PER 14.9

Verdict: It appears plainly obvious to everyone that Reggie is not the same player this season as last. He hasn't moved around the court the same since his return from knee tendinitis, getting to the line 40% less this season and struggling to stay in front of opposing teams PGs. He has been guilty of trying to be the same player he once was with a body that is less able and the team has often suffered because of it. This is a guy who we nicknamed "Mr 4th Quarter" last season, and often singlehandedly led us to victory in close games. And it has been obvious we've lacked a closer in many of the same close games this year.


Before this season started the consensus projections for our team, which had just won 44 games and then signed a few rotational players to shore up a terrible bench, was about 48-50 wins and competing for HCA. As it stands today we have six games left and only 35 wins to our name, sitting 11th in the East. Looking at the player stats above the only player that seems worse this season is Reggie Jackson, and the most obvious explanation affecting his play is his knee injury as it would be hard to find another explanation as to how he could go from borderline all-Star play last year to a borderline team cancer now.

This off-season, if we re-sign KCP and Baynes walks, our roster projects to be:

Drummond/Boban
Harris/Leuer/Ellenson
Morris/SJ
KCP/Gbinije
Reggie/Ish

With free agents and our likely lottery pick yet to be determined. So I table the idea, if Reggie takes the off-season to rest and recover, perhaps has surgery if required, and returns as the same 2015/16 RJ next season, is there any reason to make any significant changes to this team at all? Shouldn't they still be expected to compete for HCA in the East again like they were this season?

I know we're all thoroughly disappointed with the team this year, probably moreso than any season in the last 10 years due to the lofty expectations most of us had, but I think it's shortsighted to blow up what is a promising and still young core due to arguably our team's most important player not being himself this year due to a bung knee.

Now tear me apart.


Lol.

Svg is that you? Go eat another twinkie.

You got jokes? I'd rather listen to Bill Burr or Jim Jeffries

Sent from my SM-J110F using RealGM mobile app

Re: IF Reggie is healthy again next season, we should keep the same team

Posted: Sat Apr 1, 2017 11:33 am
by JoeDumars
Blomberg wrote:It's just that we don't have a lot options, so it is what it is. We're gonna roll out the same crap team with minor changes next October.


Disagree - I'll start a new thread.....

Re: RE: Re: IF Reggie is healthy again next season, we should keep the same team

Posted: Sat Apr 1, 2017 11:51 am
by Pharaoh
JoeDumars wrote:
Blomberg wrote:It's just that we don't have a lot options, so it is what it is. We're gonna roll out the same crap team with minor changes next October.


Disagree - I'll start a new thread.....


I disagree with the bold too and waited 10 mins for your thread but nada so:

A team is never stuck with what they have or where they are.

Look at the Kings...OMG they're stuck being a treadmill team that's never gonna go get outta the Lotto, Cousins is mental and they just keep firing coaches all the time.

Next thing you know they trade Cousins is gone...they have a good coach...they're armed with likely 2 Top 10 picks in one amazing Draft...got a boat load of young prospects...everyone is "hopeful"

We could trade most of this roster given the current salaries of our guys vs what the market handed out last off-season

Sent from my SM-J110F using RealGM mobile app

Re: IF Reggie is healthy again next season, we should keep the same team

Posted: Sat Apr 1, 2017 11:55 am
by russkopp
I think that some changes will be made not just on a players performance but on their personality, mentality and ability to be a good teammate.

This team is mentally weak and seems all too content to lose and go home. Changes have to be made.

Re: RE: Re: IF Reggie is healthy again next season, we should keep the same team

Posted: Sat Apr 1, 2017 12:00 pm
by Blomberg
Pharaoh wrote:
JoeDumars wrote:
Blomberg wrote:It's just that we don't have a lot options, so it is what it is. We're gonna roll out the same crap team with minor changes next October.


Disagree - I'll start a new thread.....


I disagree with the bold too and waited 10 mins for your thread but nada so:

A team is never stuck with what they have or where they are.

Look at the Kings...OMG they're stuck being a treadmill team that's never gonna go get outta the Lotto, Cousins is mental and they just keep firing coaches all the time.

Next thing you know they trade Cousins is gone...they have a good coach...they're armed with likely 2 Top 10 picks in one amazing Draft...got a boat load of young prospects...everyone is "hopeful"

We could trade most of this roster given the current salaries of our guys vs what the market handed out last off-season

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Yes we probably could but I doubt we will. The PR team, SVG and Gores are going to try to sell us the same group for next season and blame this season on Jackson injury. Hope I'm wrong though!

Re: IF Reggie is healthy again next season, we should keep the same team

Posted: Sat Apr 1, 2017 12:12 pm
by Drwho17
The Pistons just need a half decent PG, whether it's RJ or another who knows, SVG's offense doesn't need a great PG, he can take mediocre guys and get it done, but RJ was very bad this year. Benching him has turned the offense around, Ish Smith looks great in comparison, even old broken down Beno Udrih looks good in this offense. If only they could win the Lottery, wish they'd change the format of that so it's not so weighted.

IF Reggie is healthy again next season, we should keep the same team

Posted: Sat Apr 1, 2017 12:13 pm
by pistontr
Still

Re: RE: Re: IF Reggie is healthy again next season, we should keep the same team

Posted: Sat Apr 1, 2017 12:21 pm
by PistonsSince85
Pharaoh wrote:
PistonsSince85 wrote:
Mr Peanut wrote:So this probably won't be a popular opinion. But before you balk and laugh at me, hear me out.

The most important, and arguably only relevant, difference between this season and last season is Reggie Jackson's health. When he went down and then returned as a much lesser version of himself we were never going to truly compete for HCA in the East as a lot of the NBA community had expected us to. If you don't believe that's the principal difference and why we've been so poor this year, let's compare the team's main rotational players over the last two seasons:

Tobias Harris
2015/16: 33.4 MPG, 16.6 PPG, 6.2 RPG, 2.6 APG, 47.7% FG, 37.5% 3P, 91.1% FT, PER 18.2
2016/17: 31.4 MPG, 16.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 1.7 APG, 48.1% FG, 33.9% 3P, 85.0% FT, PER 16.7

Verdict: If you take into account playing a couple of minutes less per game, Tobias has largely had a similar season to his time last year with the Pistons. When you extrapolate his numbers out to per 36 he's actually a slightly better scorer, albeit shooting a bit less efficiently from the 3 point line.

Marcus Morris
2015/16: 35.7 MPG, 14.1 PPG, 5.1 RPG, 2.5 APG, 43.4% FG, 36.2% 3P, 74.9% FT, PER 12.7
2016/17: 32.9 MPG, 14.2 PPG, 4.8 RPG, 2.1 APG, 41.8% FG, 33.1% 3P, 78.6% FT, PER 12.6

Verdict: Similar to Harris, fractionally better scoring this season on slightly worse efficiency. But certainly his game doesn't seem to have regressed.

Kentavious Caldwell-Pope
2015/16: 36.7 MPG, 14.5 PPG, 3.7 RPG, 1.8 APG, 1.4 SPG, 42.0% FG, 30.9% 3P, 81.1% FT, PER 12.4
2016/17: 33.7 MPG, 14.1 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 2.6 APG, 1.2 SPG, 40.4% FG, 36.4% 3P, 83.1% FT, PER 13.2

Verdict: It's been fairly obvious to everyone that KCP has taken big strides since last season; while always a defensively strong player his scoring, particularly his 3-point shooting, has taken the next step this year. Also his playmaking (particularly when Reggie Jackson was injured) is evidently much improved.

Andre Drummond:
2015/16: 32.9 MPG, 16.2 PPG, 14.8 RPG, 1.5 SPG, 1.4 BPG, 52.1% FG, 35.5% FT, PER 21.2
2016/17: 30.1 MPG, 14.1 PPG, 14.0 RPG, 1.6 SPG, 1.1 BPG, 53.4%, 39.2% FT, PER 21.3

Verdict: For all the criticism that Drummond has been subject to this season, his numbers haven't been bad. His rebounding is actually better than last season per 36 and his free throw shooting while still terrible is mildly improved. His PPG has probably suffered a little bit from Jackson not being 100% as he did set Drummond up a lot in the P&R. And while being rightly criticized for his defense, you could argue that a big part of that deficiency is secondary to Jackson's poor defense which puts Drummond in the spot of having to come and guard the opposing PG and leaving his man open (something we've seen countless times this season). Overall though, Drummond's regression doesn't seem to be anything significant that can't be explained by Jackson's poor health.

Stanley Johnson
2015/16: 23.1 MPG, 8.1 PPG, 4.2 RPG, 1.6 APG, 37.5% FG, 30.7% 3P, 78.4% FT, PER 8.7
2016/17: 17.2 MPG, 4.4 PPG, 2.5 RPG, 1.3 APG, 36.5% FG, 28.1% 3P, 66.7% FT, PER 7.6

Verdict: While SJ appears to have suffered a statistical regression by these metrics, defensively many would agree he has improved this year. And you could argue his scoring struggles could be attributed to lack of a clear role within the offense which is a fault of SVG. Overall, SJ has taken a bit of a step back but was never a significant difference maker within our winning team last season anyway which would explain our fall in the standings.

And finally:

Reggie Jackson
2015/16: 30.7 MPG, 18.8 PPG, 3.2 RPG, 6.2 APG, 43.4% FG, 35.3% 3P, 86.4% FT, PER 19.6
2016/17: 27.4 MPG, 14.5 PPG, 2.2 RPG, 5.2 APG, 41.9% FG, 35.9% 3P, 86.8% FT, PER 14.9

Verdict: It appears plainly obvious to everyone that Reggie is not the same player this season as last. He hasn't moved around the court the same since his return from knee tendinitis, getting to the line 40% less this season and struggling to stay in front of opposing teams PGs. He has been guilty of trying to be the same player he once was with a body that is less able and the team has often suffered because of it. This is a guy who we nicknamed "Mr 4th Quarter" last season, and often singlehandedly led us to victory in close games. And it has been obvious we've lacked a closer in many of the same close games this year.


Before this season started the consensus projections for our team, which had just won 44 games and then signed a few rotational players to shore up a terrible bench, was about 48-50 wins and competing for HCA. As it stands today we have six games left and only 35 wins to our name, sitting 11th in the East. Looking at the player stats above the only player that seems worse this season is Reggie Jackson, and the most obvious explanation affecting his play is his knee injury as it would be hard to find another explanation as to how he could go from borderline all-Star play last year to a borderline team cancer now.

This off-season, if we re-sign KCP and Baynes walks, our roster projects to be:

Drummond/Boban
Harris/Leuer/Ellenson
Morris/SJ
KCP/Gbinije
Reggie/Ish

With free agents and our likely lottery pick yet to be determined. So I table the idea, if Reggie takes the off-season to rest and recover, perhaps has surgery if required, and returns as the same 2015/16 RJ next season, is there any reason to make any significant changes to this team at all? Shouldn't they still be expected to compete for HCA in the East again like they were this season?

I know we're all thoroughly disappointed with the team this year, probably moreso than any season in the last 10 years due to the lofty expectations most of us had, but I think it's shortsighted to blow up what is a promising and still young core due to arguably our team's most important player not being himself this year due to a bung knee.

Now tear me apart.


Lol.

Svg is that you? Go eat another twinkie.

You got jokes? I'd rather listen to Bill Burr or Jim Jeffries

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Umm...no. No political pot shots.

-Snake

Re: IF Reggie is healthy again next season, we should keep the same team

Posted: Sat Apr 1, 2017 12:28 pm
by Canadafan
Good post. One thing I love about this board is the love we all have for this franchise.
I'd say right now 85% want to blow it up.
I'm in the 15% group where I think we can somehow grow from this.
I literally, sadly, laid in bed last night after the game and thought about how we can get better last night. "If reggie is healthy" he could have took over last night. My main thought was out of all our rotation players, Leuer needs to be improved upon. Or Leuer's role. We need a big that can actually knock down a 3.
Then I woke up this morning thinking, ya know what? We need to deal Drummond lol. Cause that was a disgrace last night. Pure laziness. Reminded me so bad of Monroe and how he'd constantly refuse to run back on defense. No excuse for that. He just seems content to cash those checks and not improve. Drummond traded to the right team would return the most for us. Just not sure who or what that means for us.
My only other scattered thought this early in the morning is to consolidate our "talent" and deal a few of SJ Tobias Leuer Morris Ellenson and our pick for a Jimmy Butler or somebody!

Re: RE: Re: RE: Re: IF Reggie is healthy again next season, we should keep the same team

Posted: Sat Apr 1, 2017 1:48 pm
by Pharaoh
PistonsSince85 wrote:
Pharaoh wrote:
PistonsSince85 wrote:
Lol.

Svg is that you? Go eat another twinkie.

You got jokes? I'd rather listen to Bill Burr or Jim Jeffries

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For a guy that has been wrong all season, you sure have a lot of hutzpah.

Ill bet you thought Hillary would win too.

Just let the truth sink in dumbo. KCP is overrated, this team is a aweful and SVG is a liberal master of panic who has doomed us.


Been wrong all season? You're a fool!

Said it before it was popular: 2 halves don't mesh

Said in the pre-season to diversify the offensive system to put the ball in other guys' hands!

Who pushed for Rubio prior to the deadline? What's his stats since the All Star break? What are our stats when we start Ish & Tobias?

Who has pushed for SJ to get consistent minutes and a consistent role?

Who has constantly posted rotations where King Henry gets a consistent 10 minutes a night?

Got a lot of hutzpah? **** OATH I do!

Maybe you forgot all that because I'm not here to push my opinion on the forum at all costs?

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Re: IF Reggie is healthy again next season, we should keep the same team

Posted: Sat Apr 1, 2017 2:21 pm
by Pharaoh
Sorry to do this in this thread but I've been inspired by it to just **** do this (although I have said it before):

IF we do not change this roster the BEST we can hope for is a 5-8 seed.

We are too easy to defend with our current personnel & offensive system.

It's really that simple!

1 - with RJ in the game we become the dreaded half court, stand and watch 5 as he goes PnR with Drummond.

We do not have the shooters to play this way and when RJ finally stops pounding the air outta the ball we don't have enough creators off the bounce to bail us out - which is where you get these bull mid range jumpers from everyone - assuming we don't brick another 3!

This is FACT - was proven 20 games after he returned from injury and can't possibly be disputed now!

2 - with RJ out of the game (Ish in) we push the pace, share the ball, get transitions and generally dig ourselves out of the hole created by the first group.

That was also proven as FACT 20 games after RJ returned from injury and nothing that has happened since has disproven it!

The drama here is: that style of play is simply not sustainable for 48 minutes given our current personnel!

This unit struggles in the halfcourt thanks to a lack of creators off the bounce and the lack of deep shooters as well - it's merely camouflaged better here (based on eye test) because of the change of pace, players getting the ball in their spots with time to decide

Regardless of what unit we play it's flawed on the offensive end - we'll worry about D some other time (it's after midnight here and I gotta work tomorrow)

I have proposed for months the acquisition of Ricky Rubio to at least play a consistent style of play on the offensive end that has proven to be somewhat successful for this team - I was initially told to STFU until it became apparent that Ish is a dish best served more often!

Rubio alone won't solve it though. I admitted as much at the time! But all the noise on here drowns out a lot of stuff.

When you look at the best teams in the league TWO things should be abundantly clear to any fan, regardless of involvement in the game:

They possess quality outside shooting

AND, more importantly

They also possess multiple playmakers who can create off the bounce.

Cleveland, GSW, Spurs, Boston, Toronto, Clippers, Houston...

Don't know the records on those teams but they ALL have multiple guys who are quality threats from 3 & multiple guys who can get a shot when you need it...and not all of them are MVP candidates!

We lack in both areas and until that is addressed we're never gonna be much more than cannon fodder for those teams

This is a FACT of life in the modern NBA and can't be disputed!

Anyone with extensive knowledge of the game holds these truths to be self-evident and what is understood doesn't need to be discussed!

But apparently we need to discuss these things because people wanna sit and throw fuel in a fire because of enotional attachments and disappointment!

So let's discuss

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Re: RE: Re: IF Reggie is healthy again next season, we should keep the same team

Posted: Sat Apr 1, 2017 2:29 pm
by Pharaoh
russkopp wrote:I think that some changes will be made not just on a players performance but on their personality, mentality and ability to be a good teammate.

This team is mentally weak and seems all too content to lose and go home. Changes have to be made.

Sorry bro missed this but AMEN!

There are 3 things we need to do this off-season:

Determine the offensive system that we wanna run and acquire players to run it

Fix the broken D that allows certain types of players to eat us alive

And fix the passive attitude that permeates through the locker room

I believe that the **** I've been taught over 30 years is the solution so not gonna be shy about it anymore

Step 1 to solving multiple problems is starting Stanley Johnson at SF. He wants to be a lead dog? Bark ****!

30 minutes every night, secondary ball handler and perimeter defender #1!

What's the worst that can happen? He fails and we're a Lotto team?

What if he succeeds?

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