If Pistons stand pat and are healthy, how good?

Laimbeer · Post #1 » by **Laimbeer** » Fri Jun 1, 2018 10:39 am

I know there's a lot of understandable negativity based on contracts and health of Blake and Reggie in particular, but I'm curious how good people think the Pistons will be if they stand pat and are healthy?

ImHeisenberg · Post #2 » by **ImHeisenberg** » Fri Jun 1, 2018 11:29 am

In a perfect health scenario, and it's the same roster, the team's range is still 6-10 in the east.

Crymson · Post #3 » by **Crymson** » Fri Jun 1, 2018 12:33 pm

Laimbeer wrote:I know there's a lot of understandable negativity based on contracts and health of Blake and Reggie in particular, but I'm curious how good people think the Pistons will be if they stand pat and are healthy?

Worse than they would've been last season under similar circumstances had the trade never been made.

I think they'd be 6-8 if healthy. Probably a first-round exit. The core doesn't fit well, there isn't enough shooting, and there isn't enough depth.

Billl · Post #4 » by **Billl** » Fri Jun 1, 2018 12:57 pm

I went with 6, but it obviously depends on what other teams do this off season. None of the teams below us look like they are interested in really moving up. Assuming the Cavs blow it up and the Raps don't, there are only 3 playoff locks. Then there is a whole group of teams that are actually trying to win, but aren't actually in a position to contend. We'll be in the mix somewhere if healthy.

Of course, we probably won't be healthy all year and will end up battling for 8th.

The Penguin · Post #5 » by **The Penguin** » Fri Jun 1, 2018 2:13 pm

If Lebon goes West,they hit a home run on a coaching hire, completely healthy, one of Kennard or Stanley actually pops, then I think they could be anywhere in the 4-8 range.

If they miss on the coach and one of Blake or Dre misses a big chunk of time things could be really ugly.

Post #6 » by **Snakebites** » Fri Jun 1, 2018 2:23 pm

They’re 7 or 8 if healthy.

They won’t be.

bballnmike · Post #7 » by **bballnmike** » Fri Jun 1, 2018 2:46 pm

Healthy all season? 3-5 easily. This board has really swung negative the past couple months (understandable, but still)

flow · Post #8 » by **flow** » Fri Jun 1, 2018 2:48 pm

Depends on how they're coached.

If they're coached well, play well, and stay healthy, this is potentially a # 5 seed.

7r5ur · Post #9 » by **7r5ur** » Fri Jun 1, 2018 2:51 pm

A team that starts Reggie Jackson, Blake Griffin, and Reggie Bullock is never going to get through the season unscathed.

Post #10 » by **theBigLip** » Fri Jun 1, 2018 3:32 pm

I put us a a #6 seed. I'm more worried about RJ's health than Blakes. Blake is more concerning from a financial aspect, but RJ is very impactful to how our team plays. If they all stay healthy? WE are a playoff team for sure. A new coach should inject some life into this crew as well. And Leuer's health is another one that is overlooked. I think he can get back to being the stretch forward we are paying him to be. I assume his ankle is 100% by now.

Jcrawfordcross · Post #11 » by **Jcrawfordcross** » Fri Jun 1, 2018 4:44 pm

Let's assume all teams stand pat, including Bron coming back, and stay healthy.

Boston
Cleveland
Philly
Toronto
Milwaukee
Indiana

Those teams we won't surpass IMO and in no particular order would call them "locks" for playoffs.

I think Washington, Miami, Charlotte and Detroit fit are all in the same tier. I think 7-10 is realistic.

vic · Post #12 » by **vic** » Fri Jun 1, 2018 4:44 pm

Moot question... because the team was designed by Stan to not be healthy.

As posted above, any team that depends on Reggie Jackson, Reggie Bullock, and Blake Griffin to be starters.... is a team that's not going to last, because they will not be healthy.

SVG got rid of (demoted) Arnie Kander, then contracted out the team to oft-injured players, and missed on Donovan Mitchell.

It's not going to look good at all for the Pistons unless Stanley Johnson pulls a Jimmy Butler/Kawhi Leonard step of improvement in his game and becomes dependable from 3.

That's why a coach that can develop or inspire confidence in the players (specifically Stanley Johnson) is imperative to save this team. Somebody's going to have to deliver when Reggie or Blake is injured.

MrBigShot · Post #13 » by **MrBigShot** » Fri Jun 1, 2018 6:11 pm

Stanley Johnson's problems go way beyond coaching/player development. Can't shoot, not very explosive, poor finisher, meh decision maker...he's essentially the same player he was in his rookie year offensively.

Crymson · Post #14 » by **Crymson** » Fri Jun 1, 2018 7:41 pm

bballnmike wrote:Healthy all season? 3-5 easily. This board has really swung negative the past couple months (understandable, but still)

I don't see any realistic basis for this claim. This team has neither the talent nor the fit nor the depth necessary to excel, even in the East.

theBigLip wrote:And Leuer's health is another one that is overlooked. I think he can get back to being the stretch forward we are paying him to be. I assume his ankle is 100% by now.

Leuer has never been a stretch forward. Van Gundy was a big fan of Leuer and had been trying to trade for him and so, on July 1st, gave him a huge contract on the mere hope that Leuer could shoot threes accurately on good volume. Leuer had never done so. Nor has he done so with Detroit. He's got to be able hit his threes. That's his role, and it's particularly important given that he's a bad defender. He's currently sitting at about 25% from deep with the organization. Tolliver, as a much better three-point shooter and a tremendously better defender, and a team leader to boot, is superior to Leuer in every respect with regards to what the team needs out of its backup power forward. Thanks to the Griffin trade and to the bad contracts Van Gundy has doled out, we'll probably be stuck simply hoping that Leuer can get the job done. What a **** mess.

Leuer and Galloway got their oversized contracts because they were Van Gundy favorites.

Post #15 » by **theBigLip** » Fri Jun 1, 2018 9:52 pm

Crymson wrote:Leuer has never been a stretch forward. Van Gundy was a big fan of Leuer and had been trying to trade for him and so, on July 1st, gave him a huge contract on the mere hope that Leuer could shoot threes accurately on good volume. Leuer had never done so. Nor has he done so with Detroit. He's got to be able hit his threes. That's his role, and it's particularly important given that he's a bad defender. He's currently sitting at about 25% from deep with the organization. Tolliver, as a much better three-point shooter and a tremendously better defender, and a team leader to boot, is superior to Leuer in every respect with regards to what the team needs out of its backup power forward. Thanks to the Griffin trade and to the bad contracts Van Gundy has doled out, we'll probably be stuck simply hoping that Leuer can get the job done. What a **** mess.

Leuer and Galloway got their oversized contracts because they were Van Gundy favorites.

Leuer had a good 3p% on limited shots before coming to Detroit and yes, we took a gamble, and yes, Tolliver is way more bang for the buck. But we are stuck with Leuer, so if he can be healthy and hopefully up his % a bit, that could help us tremendously. If nothing else, improve his trade value. I'm not trying to overstate his worth, but the topic is "if we are healthy" so I figure we shouldn't ignore him either.

Crymson · Post #16 » by **Crymson** » Sat Jun 2, 2018 12:03 am

theBigLip wrote:Leuer had a good 3p% on limited shots before coming to Detroit and yes, we took a gamble, and yes, Tolliver is way more bang for the buck. But we are stuck with Leuer, so if he can be healthy and hopefully up his % a bit, that could help us tremendously. If nothing else, improve his trade value. I'm not trying to overstate his worth, but the topic is "if we are healthy" so I figure we shouldn't ignore him either.

As you say, we're stuck with him. But what a gut-punch that we've got to roll with him instead of the far superior Tolliver. Yet another consequence of an astonishingly stupid trade that ignored every consideration beyond picking up a big name.

bballnmike · Post #17 » by **bballnmike** » Sat Jun 2, 2018 7:16 pm

Crymson wrote:
bballnmike wrote:Healthy all season? 3-5 easily. This board has really swung negative the past couple months (understandable, but still)

I don't see any realistic basis for this claim. This team has neither the talent nor the fit nor the depth necessary to excel, even in the East.

I don't see any realistic basis for this claim.

hoophabit · Post #18 » by **hoophabit** » Sat Jun 2, 2018 11:40 pm

Perfect health all season? I voted 4. Maybe a little optimistic, but this is a Piston fan board? If Drummond continues the kind of improvement he showed last season? Bullock became a weapon last season. Reggie and Blake healthy? I see Leuer getting bashed hard. Prior to his injury he was fairly effective. I'm expecting Kennard to play and shoot a lot more, and be improved. So, maybe as high as 4.

DCintheD · Post #19 » by **DCintheD** » Sat Jun 2, 2018 11:53 pm

not good.

Crymson · Post #20 » by **Crymson** » Sun Jun 3, 2018 2:08 am

bballnmike wrote:
Crymson wrote:
bballnmike wrote:Healthy all season? 3-5 easily. This board has really swung negative the past couple months (understandable, but still)

I don't see any realistic basis for this claim. This team has neither the talent nor the fit nor the depth necessary to excel, even in the East.

I don't see any realistic basis for this claim.

I suspect you're just being cheeky; but if you aren't, do feel free to rebut what I've said or otherwise explain your rationale.

Playoff seeding if Pistons stand pat and are healthy?