Are you ready for some Pistons Basketball?

Ottomund · Post #1 » by **Ottomund** » Mon Oct 1, 2018 9:23 am

We all know the Pistons aren't competing for a championship this year, but we do have a lot of changes from last season that will hopefully work out for the better. How excited are you about the upcoming season?

I can't really put more finger on it but for some reason I am REALLY geeked for the upcoming season. Maybe it's just the homer in me, maybe it's the fact that all of the other Detroit sports teams are abysmal, but the last time I have felt like this was when SVG got hired. (I know, I know - it didn't work out nearly as well as we had hoped). Still I just can't wait to see the guys under Casey and with a whole off-season to gel.

Billl · Post #2 » by **Billl** » Mon Oct 1, 2018 1:57 pm

The only real change we made was SVG for Casey. The guys had clearly started tuning him out, so hopefully this will be an improvement. Ultimately though, this is a players league. We likely only have 1 rotation player that wasn't on the roster last year.

I'm really concerned about leadership on this team. AT obviously was limited on the court, but he was our most vocal veteran leader. Dre's not inherently a motivator and the rest of the guys are pretty laid back. The only one who is naturally a vocal leader is SJ, but he's got to be a lot more consistent before you can expect vets to follow him.

Kilo · Post #3 » by **Kilo** » Mon Oct 1, 2018 2:10 pm

I think a full off-season and camp with Griffin is a "big change" as well. I've been ready for the off-season to end for the last month so have been binge watching Griffin highlights - and I don't think the Pistons have had a player as naturally skilled as him since Grant Hill. He just looks like he's on another level when he's playing - it's weird. Without the injuries, I think he's a top 5 player in the league. But admittedly, I'm drunk of off-season koolaid and highlight video's. Even watching him here last year, it's like he's on a different plane of ability even in the say he moves in relation to the other players.

I'm glad Tolly is gone.

DETermination · Post #4 » by **DETermination** » Mon Oct 1, 2018 6:00 pm

I am for sure, looking forward to seeing Blake in his first full season here and see how our young role players do with Casey as the coach now.

Ottomund · Post #5 » by **Ottomund** » Mon Oct 1, 2018 7:09 pm

Billl wrote:The only real change we made was SVG for Casey. The guys had clearly started tuning him out, so hopefully this will be an improvement. Ultimately though, this is a players league. We likely only have 1 rotation player that wasn't on the roster last year.

I'm really concerned about leadership on this team. AT obviously was limited on the court, but he was our most vocal veteran leader. Dre's not inherently a motivator and the rest of the guys are pretty laid back. The only one who is naturally a vocal leader is SJ, but he's got to be a lot more consistent before you can expect vets to follow him.

SVG for Casey is not just a matter of trading one coach for another. They have very different philosophies and there will be many changes in the way personnel is handled and the way the offense and defense is run because of it. I also think having Blake Griffin healthy all through off season and the guys having time to gel should not be underestimated.

440BB · Post #6 » by **440BB** » Mon Oct 1, 2018 10:02 pm

I'm looking forward to what Casey can do with this lineup compared to SVG. IF they stay relatively healthy this could be interesting. Kennard with a year of experience and a healthy GR3 could make us quite a different team.

whitehops · Post #7 » by **whitehops** » Tue Oct 2, 2018 3:12 am

i'm definitely excited for the season. we have a coaching which also means an entire change in the morale of the locker room. we'll have an entire season of blake griffin and he's *in theory* fully healthy so he's had the entire offseason to work on his game which hopefully means his jump shot is better than ever. drummond *might* be able to stretch the floor which could change the dynamic of the offense. one (or more) of our young players could take the next step. we get jon leuer back who could make an impact as a mobile center for us. even small things like having veteran backups in jose calderon and zaza pachulia could make a difference.

there are a lot of "ifs" but that's part of what makes this upcoming season so intriguing.

WillTheThrill12 · Post #8 » by **WillTheThrill12** » Tue Oct 2, 2018 6:57 am

Very excited to see what having two playmakers in Griffin and Jackson on the court together would look like for this team for (hopefully) a whole season.

DCintheD · Post #9 » by **DCintheD** » Tue Oct 2, 2018 12:20 pm

Can't wait for some optimistic mediocrity!

Reggie still trusted to be our starting pg says everything about what to expect this year...

MotownMadness · Post #10 » by **MotownMadness** » Tue Oct 2, 2018 1:20 pm

Oh yeah

flow · Post #11 » by **flow** » Tue Oct 2, 2018 3:15 pm

Looking forward to the season. The coaching change was needed. Not expecting much different on offense (unfortunately), but defense should improve, as should overall team play. I wish Casey well and will give him a chance.

*If Kennard isn't getting 30 mins right out of the gate, I'll be disappointed.

Post #12 » by **Snakebites** » Tue Oct 2, 2018 5:15 pm

Yeah, I'll admit I'm ready.

The beginning of the year is usually the best part.

Neptune · Post #13 » by **Neptune** » Wed Oct 3, 2018 12:08 am

Hell no, not with this roster. I'm trying to win!

bstein14 · Post #14 » by **bstein14** » Wed Oct 3, 2018 12:18 am

Last year and this year both equally lacking excitement for me. Feels like more of the same.

MrBigShot · Post #15 » by **MrBigShot** » Wed Oct 3, 2018 1:29 am

I'm going in with no expectations. Having everyone healthy is definitely a plus and Casey's coaching style is radically different than SVG's. At the very least it will be interesting.

DCintheD wrote:Can't wait for some optimistic mediocrity!

Reggie still trusted to be our starting pg says everything about what to expect this year...

Reggie was playing some of his best basketball ever before getting injured, he had a great mix of scoring and facilitating. If anything his inability to stay healthy is a much bigger red flag than his play on the court. When he's actually healthy, Reggie is a pretty solid PG.

I think our wing positions and the fact that Dre/Blake aren't exactly an ideal fit (Blake marginalizes Dre imo, he ends up being less involved in the offense than he was at the beginning of last year) are bigger issues.

Manocad · Post #16 » by **Manocad** » Wed Oct 3, 2018 4:26 pm

bstein14 wrote:Last year and this year both equally lacking excitement for me. Feels like more of the same.

Same here. Will I watch? Sure. Excitement? That’s an overstatement for sure.

Sent from my iPhone using RealGM mobile app

DCintheD · Post #17 » by **DCintheD** » Wed Oct 3, 2018 4:36 pm

MrBigShot wrote:I'm going in with no expectations. Having everyone healthy is definitely a plus and Casey's coaching style is radically different than SVG's. At the very least it will be interesting.

DCintheD wrote:Can't wait for some optimistic mediocrity!

Reggie still trusted to be our starting pg says everything about what to expect this year...

Reggie was playing some of his best basketball ever before getting injured, he had a great mix of scoring and facilitating. If anything his inability to stay healthy is a much bigger red flag than his play on the court. When he's actually healthy, Reggie is a pretty solid PG.

this is my point...when is he actually healthy for a full season?

mattao313 · Post #18 » by **mattao313** » Wed Oct 3, 2018 6:21 pm

Somewhat, last season was just a drain on my interest. But maybe will be good this year. I cant watch games tho cause i work evenings..sucks.

thesack12 · Post #19 » by **thesack12** » Sun Oct 14, 2018 3:43 am

Bruce Brown: Like his defensive upside, looking forward to seeing if he can develop into a viable option at PG
Reggie Bullock: The best pure shooter on the team, looking forward to seeing if he can build on his strong 17-18 season
Jose Calderon: Dude is cooked, looking forward to the day he's not wearing a Pistons jersey
Andre Drummond: Quietly developed nicely on both ends of the floor under SVG. Looking forward to see if his maturation grows
Henry Ellenson: Met him a couple of times, nice guy. Looking forward to the time when he's not wasting a roster spot
Langston Galloway: Has solid 3 ball potential, looking forward to seeing if his strong pre-season wasn't a complete fluke
Blake Griffin: Most talented player Detroit has had in like forever. Looking forward to seeing him continue to lengthen his Jshot
Reggie Jackson: The team's x factor when healthy. Looking forward to seeing if he can stay relatively healthy this season
Stanley Johnson: A bulldog on defense. Looking forward to him realizing he's not a star and start to reign in his offensive game
Luke Kennard: Great spot up shooter: Looking forward to him being able to help space the floor
Jon Leuer: He's like tall and stuff. Looking forward to his contract becoming a year shorter
Zaza Pachulia: Don't like him, but he's entertaining. Looking forward to him punking some other player I don't like
Glenn Robinson 3: Brings much needed athleticism on the wing. Looking forward to see if he will be a decent FA signing for once
Ish Smith: Great 6th man/steadying presence. Looking forward to seeing if he can continue to build on his deep ball
Khyri Thomas: Like what his scouting report says. Looking forward to seeing if he gets any meaningful minutes at all

Keenan Evans: ???. Looking forward to getting a different 2 way contracted player (Zach Lofton)
Reggie Hearn: Thoroughly unintriguing. Looking forward to getting a different 2 way contracted player (Zach Lofton)

Dwane Casey: Reigning COY. Looking forward to seeing if he can become a bit more imaginative than he's shown in the past
Ed Stefanski: Was happy he picked up that extra 2nd rounder. Looking forward to him keeping the team under the luxury tax

zeebneeb · Post #20 » by **zeebneeb** » Sun Oct 14, 2018 10:34 pm

Healthy-54/59 wins 1,2 or 3 seed in the East. Playoffs-limit unknown because of the front-court advantage.

Semi-healthy-44/50 wins 6,5,4 seed 1st 2nd round exit

Last years health-anonther miserable season but with the added bonus of another semi-crap draft pick.

I'm not optimistic about the teams health. :-?