ESPN Ranks the East (Detroit 10th)

E-Z · Post #1 » by **E-Z** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 8:41 pm

Atlanta remains at six, followed by Washington, and Cleveland. The Bucks fall to 9th and finally our home team. I'm not going to post the article or screen grab (Insider), but I'll briefly quote Tom Haberstroh's analysis of Detroit's off-season moves.

"I'd be more excited about the Pistons had they addressed their spacing issues brought about Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond, but then they exacerbated the problem by signing notorious long-2 maven Josh Smith"

In other words, sure the team can defend, but Detroit's offense will be sourly stagnant. He's not sure the Pistons can be a playoff team with an unproven back-court tasked with carrying such an offensive load.

Do I agree with his assessment of the Pistons? Sorta.

Floor spacing will be an issue without a doubt. However, this probably won't be a concern for a team during the regular season. 4 playoff squads (IND, MEM, CHI, MIL) have shot the ball worse than Detroit last season. Spacing is almost a non-issue until a team breaks into the post-season, where half-court sets are the norm.

However his concerns about the back-court are legitimate. Knight still lacks a reliable mid-range game to be a versatile scorer. KCP is a shooter, but very few players will come out playing their averages in their first season. This isn't to mention that Knight is still raw at the point guard position, combined with the turnovers Monroe and Smith churn out on occasion.

Dumars took a gamble with Smith, but It may be the right one. However, I don't expect all of the media to become Pistons fans between now and November.

ImHeisenberg · Post #2 » by **ImHeisenberg** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 8:46 pm

Not worried. If it won't work, Dumars can look to deal Smith or Monroe and see who can fetch the highest price.

Han Solo · Post #3 » by **Han Solo** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 9:18 pm

ESPN is always right though.. :lol:

Han Solo · Post #4 » by **Han Solo** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 9:19 pm

ESPN hates when we're good. That's a fact folks..

ComboGuardCity · Post #5 » by **ComboGuardCity** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 9:21 pm

Henson/Sanders as the best front court in the East? Not a chance.

Slackstring701 · Post #6 » by **Slackstring701** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 9:25 pm

Han Solo wrote:ESPN hates when we're good. That's a fact folks..

Good? Zero floor spacing, a so-so new coach, and no real true starting quality PG.

Pistons have some great upside, but right now the roster has a ton of holes that will be exploited during an 82 game grind.

Han Solo · Post #7 » by **Han Solo** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 9:28 pm

Slackstring701 wrote:
Han Solo wrote:ESPN hates when we're good. That's a fact folks..

Good? Zero floor spacing, a so-so new coach, and no real true starting quality PG.

Pistons have some great upside, but right now the roster has a ton of holes that will be exploited during an 82 game grind.

We have the same amount of holes than 80% of the rest of the league. We will make the playoffs. Book it, sig it, don't care.

Too much on the line this year to miss. I laugh when people compare us to the trash teams in the NBA. Detroit Pistons don't stay down forever. 31 years of watching the red, white, and blue have taught me that.

DETermination · Post #8 » by **DETermination** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 9:31 pm

Our defense alone will get us into the playoffs, and our spacing wont be as bad as people think.

Han Solo · Post #9 » by **Han Solo** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 9:32 pm

Floor spacing is all people are clinging to with our team because of the nightmare matchups we can cause down low.

If all else fails, run KCP, Knight, and Charlie V out there for stretches during the game with Smith/Moose/Dre (any two at a time).

This is all laughable.. Chauncey can shoot too.

MrBigShot · Post #10 » by **MrBigShot** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 9:35 pm

Han Solo wrote:
Slackstring701 wrote:
Han Solo wrote:ESPN hates when we're good. That's a fact folks..

Good? Zero floor spacing, a so-so new coach, and no real true starting quality PG.

Pistons have some great upside, but right now the roster has a ton of holes that will be exploited during an 82 game grind.

We have the same amount of holes than 80% of the rest of the league. We will make the playoffs. Book it, sig it, don't care.

Too much on the line this year to miss. I laugh when people compare us to the trash teams in the NBA. Detroit Pistons don't stay down forever. 31 years of watching the red, white, and blue have taught me that.

Han Solo is right, and you can quote me as well going on record saying that we will be in the playoffs.

aad · Post #11 » by **aad** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 9:55 pm

Lol at anyone who think the bucks are a better team then us

Blkbrd671 · Post #12 » by **Blkbrd671** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 10:18 pm

idiotic sports analyst. some of these guys could be posters on this forum

tbennett5438 · Post #13 » by **tbennett5438** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 10:23 pm

We are going to be a 6th seed this year.

Post #14 » by **theBigLip** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 10:47 pm

Waaay too much emphasis on our spacing. We'll have a much improved D. We'll have Drummond for the entire year. And if we need spacing, Billups and KCP would love to sit on the 3 point line and bomb away all day. I think we'll be fine.

rock digger · Post #15 » by **rock digger** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 11:05 pm

There are legitimate concerns about spacing, but I would be shocked if we don't come out with at least the 8 seed. Whether that is because we're good, or the east is bad as usual, I'm not sure, but the playoffs are the playoffs I guess.

Post #16 » by **dVs33** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 11:06 pm

How are the bucks considered that high in the east?? They have Henson and Sanders and that's it. If they give Jennings a QO, he'll be chucking more than ever to try and get that big contract and Mayo will come back to earth.
I don't get it.
I could see Atlanta moving down a little too.

Based purely on defense and frontcourt depth, we should be a playoff team.
We have defense, size and athleticism across all positions. Spacing may be a problem at times, but we have guys that can stretch the floor when necessary.
we're far from perfect, but not as far as people think.

ImHeisenberg · Post #17 » by **ImHeisenberg** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 11:09 pm

Some d-bag on ESPN doesn't carry any weight with me. Predicting the finish of a team that's gone through a radical redesign, with a new coaching staff is near impossible.

Did Detroit get more talented? Yes. Did they get more athletic? Yes. Did they get more shooting? Yes. Did they get better defensively? Yes. Did they get a better coach? Maybe.

IMO, 5-15 is wide open. To say that the Knicks are a lock for the 5th seed is the signs of an obvious homer. Their back court didn't improve, their aging roster of last year is another year older. After Carmelo Anthony, there's isn't a lot to love about the Knicks. Chandler and Amare are walking target for injuries.

How is Atlanta or Washington notably better than Detroit? John Wall had a couple fantastic weeks last year, but we've never him do it consistently. For Atlanta, I don't know anyone who actually watches basketball that believes that Paul Millsap is an equal or better player than Josh Smith.

The Nets aren't even a lock, IMO. Too old, too injury prone.

RTM · Post #18 » by **RTM** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 11:13 pm

DETermination wrote:Our defense alone will get us into the playoffs, and our spacing wont be as bad as people think.

I see so many people say that our defense is going to be otherworldly, and that's enough. Am I crazy for disagreeing? Greg Monroe might be our best player, an as much as it pains me, he's a minus on that end. Smith an Drummond are both great, Knight is above average, and I have hope for KCP being pretty good. But who else on this team defends?

Billups either gives up speed or size, Stuckey is on and off, Jerebko isn't what he was as a rookie, Singler/Gigi aren't guys I trust, Mitchell/Khris/Slava aren't going to play enough to matter, and we know how bad CV and Bynum are.

We've got some great individual defensive talent, but we better hope there's a well communicated defensive game plan, or else there's going to be some major disappointment.

To be a playoff team, Detroit needs to get it done on both sides of the ball, and given our personnel, creativity is necessary to do that.

Sent from my iPhone using RealGM Forums mobile app

MrBigShot · Post #19 » by **MrBigShot** » Thu Jul 25, 2013 11:17 pm

With DWill/JJ/Pierce/KG/Lopez plus a former sixth man of the year in Jterry...I think that the Nets will make it to the playoffs on talent alone. Barring major injuries I see them as a top 4 seed.

I agree 100% with the consensus that the Bucks have no place being considered that high. Larry Sanders is a good shot blocker...Henson is a young bigman with some upside. Jennings/Mayo sounds like a chuck fest though, and they don't have much outside of that. The Hawks retained Teague, got Milsap and drafted Shroeder, but lost Josh Smith. Both of those teams will miss the playoffs imo, and Washington is a question mark. They have talent with Wall/Beal/Porter but they are really young and their role players aren't as good as ours.

So much focus on the Smith/Monroe/Drummond spacing issue that people forget that we've brought in Sheed/Cheeks to mentor our guys, as well as Chauncey, Datome and Mitchell/KCP. We have a deep team with vets to establish a winning culture.

piston1423 · Post #20 » by **piston1423** » Fri Jul 26, 2013 3:49 am

Han Solo wrote:ESPN hates when we're good. That's a fact folks..

100% agreed. I always liked how almost everyone hated the Pistons because they would come in and take over their building 99.9% of the time. While making most allstar player's look average. I might be biased but the fact of the matter is the NBA NEEDS a good Detroit Pistons team. Think about how huge Detroit vs Chicago would be or Detroit vs Miami. Of course they have to get to that level first. I just hope is the year were everything clicks and this becomes the start of the next great era in Pistons basketball. I really hope Detroit can prove ESPN wrong.