Grantland gives Pistons A+ for offseason

[ImHeisenberg]

I think that was from an entertainment perspective.

Of course it is. It was still pro Pistons.

[ElectricMayhem]

I'm not sure Andrew Sharp actually exists. I'm thinking it might actually be Bill Simmons admitting the Pistons had a good offseason, but he couldn't do it under his own name because it would cause brand confusion. Like how movie companies have separate production companies when releasing movies of a genre they wouldn't normally do. Simmons isn't allowed to say 2 consecutive nice things about the Pistons, so he has to use a puppet writer to do it for him.

[mercury]

The grade might be good... but to think that all of these new/young pieces will meld in the first year might be a stretch... could lead the league in t.o.s

[ballhawk1]

It`s because of the Sheed hire. Folks love Rasheed.

This. And a lot of non-Piston fans, including Sharpe are Drummond fans.

Nice offseason so far.

[Pharaoh]

Take this with a grain of salt but:

We needed to acquire a back-up big man this off-season... someone with some game, someone who could play 20+ minutes regularly and not let us down.

IF Monroe and Smith start Drummond IS that back-up big. Grade = A++++++++++++++++

We needed to acquire shooters on the wing, guys who we can rely on to actually make buckets from the perimeter. Joe drafted K.C.P, signed the Italian League MVP (Datome) and some guy named Chauncey Billups (you may have heard of him!). Grade = A++++++++++++++++

We also needed to acquire a veteran presence for the locker room and for Knight, someone who is a leader, someone who can be a mentor of sorts to our kids. Joe brought in Mo Cheeks and that Chauncey Billups fellow. Grade = A++++++++++++++++++

We also needed to get some athletes on this team. Joe drafted K.C.P and Mitchell and signed Josh Smith. Don't come much more athletic than him. Grade? A+++++++++++++

What's not to like

[roc]

What's not to like

Drummond off the bench instead of starting and Billups playing more than spot minutes.

[E-Z]

Take this with a grain of salt but:

We needed to acquire a back-up big man this off-season... someone with some game, someone who could play 20+ minutes regularly and not let us down.

IF Monroe and Smith start Drummond IS that back-up big. Grade = A++++++++++++++++

We needed to acquire shooters on the wing, guys who we can rely on to actually make buckets from the perimeter. Joe drafted K.C.P, signed the Italian League MVP (Datome) and some guy named Chauncey Billups (you may have heard of him!). Grade = A++++++++++++++++

We also needed to acquire a veteran presence for the locker room and for Knight, someone who is a leader, someone who can be a mentor of sorts to our kids. Joe brought in Mo Cheeks and that Chauncey Billups fellow. Grade = A++++++++++++++++++

We also needed to get some athletes on this team. Joe drafted K.C.P and Mitchell and signed Josh Smith. Don't come much more athletic than him. Grade? A+++++++++++++

What's not to like

I doubt Detroit snags another big.

Smith, Monroe, and Drummond will each see 30+MPG unless Drummond's conditioning is still not where it should be.

The extra minutes will be at the small forward position if much else.

I envision Drummond subbing out first, moving Monroe to center. Smith shifts to the 4, and any of the small forwards check in. They're perpetually on the court given that sort of rotation. Fouls can complicate that, but I don't see another big playing 20 minutes with this amount of flexibility.

[Laimbeer]

I doubt Detroit snags another big.

Smith, Monroe, and Drummond will each see 30+MPG unless Drummond's conditioning is still not where it should be.

The extra minutes will be at the small forward position if much else.

I envision Drummond subbing out first, moving Monroe to center. Smith shifts to the 4, and any of the small forwards check in. They're perpetually on the court given that sort of rotation. Fouls can complicate that, but I don't see another big playing 20 minutes with this amount of flexibility.

You nailed it. Between the big three, there's no reason for anyone to see any non-garbage time at the 4 or 5. When they are all on the floor together, we go monster.

[c-dot]

What's not to like

Drummond off the bench instead of starting and Billups playing more than spot minutes.

I do like the idea of Drummond coming off the bench but getting 30 min per game.

[Pharaoh]

I said "take it with a grain of salt"... then concluded it with a smiley face...

[Smithfan]

We do need a big man coming off the bench.

Assuming Josh Smith playing 34min a game (17min at PF n 17min at SF); Monroe 34min; Drummond 30min
that makes 17(Jsmoove's min at PF) +34(Monroe's min at 4/5)+30(Drummond's min at 5) = 81min in total

That leaves around 15min a game for our big man coming off the bench. And we are not even considering foul troubles, injuries, fatigue and suspension

People seem to forget we star all three of JSmoove/Monroe/Drummond in our 3-big men rotation. so there has to be a first big man coming off the bench eventually. Lets say Drummond is subbed, Josh Smith n Monroe slide to 4 n 5, but when they get tired, Drummond and the 4th big will sub in.

I think a 4th big who is capable of playing 15-20min a game will be the final piece of this roster. Not sure Slava, Jerebko, Villavueva or Mitchell is capable of that yet

Someone like Udoh, Koufos or Brandan Wright will be ideal. Maybe Singler as trading chip?

[Natopher]

Villanueva or Jerebko will be the 4th big. Hopefully it's Villanueva because he's got a better 3 point shot than Jerebko.

[Smithfan]

I'm more concern about the backup 5 spot. Yea we have Monroe and Drummond covering, but if one of them is injured on in foul trouble, we don't seem to have a serviceable backup as Viacheslav Kravtsov is still very very raw.

The first big man coming off the bench should be versatile enough to play both the 4 n 5. That gives us flexibility.

Usually in a 3 big-men rotation, one big man will be coming off the bench; in our case, we have all three starting, I think it's likely that one or two of them will get tired or into foul trouble.

Drummond(30min), Monroe(12min), 4th big(6min)
Monroe(22min), JSmoove(17min), 4th big(9min)
JSmoove(17min), whoever

If u put foul trouble, matchup, fatigue, form, injury n suspension into account, Ull realize our 4th big/first big off the bench will play at least 15min a game. I think in 15-22min range

[Pharaoh]

4th big is CV

96 minutes available at C and PF combined....

Monroe 34
Drummond 26
Smith 20 maybe at PF... (15 or 16 at SF)
CV = 16

34 + 26 + 20 + 16 = 96

How Cheeks and his staff manage to ensure Monroe or Drummond is on the floor to play C is on them... that;s why they get paid to sit on the sideline while we pay to sit in the stands