This past year of Pistons basketball featured their most exciting team in over 10 years. Honestly, this year stirred up the most excitement I’ve had since Chauncey Billups was traded for Allen Iverson in the fall of 2008. Since then, the Pistons have had a myriad of, at best, mediocre teams with “leaders” that didn’t want to be in Detroit. Time and time again, fans have been disappointed by player development and overall motor. That’s not to say the Pistons haven’t had several good players. Really, they have. The problem the Pistons have had is that they haven’t had Detroit players. The Pistons have never won in a traditional fashion. The city has Bad Boys and Goes to Work. Finally, with this team assembled by Troy Weaver, the Pistons have Detroit guys again. Honestly, I don’t think there is a player on this team that I don’t like. For years, I’ve put up with teams that had only one or two players I enjoyed watching. With Troy Weaver, Dwane Casey, and company, the Pistons have something fun to watch now and for years to come.
PGs
For years, the Pistons have struggled to find a point guard. They’ve had a few good guards come off the bench with Ish Smith and Derrick Rose, but now, the Pistons seemingly have too many good point guards. First, the rookies Killian Hayes and Saban Lee looked phenomenal this year. Early on, I was skeptical of Hayes. His jump shot is still developing but he is going to be a good point guard for years. He really reminds me of Ricky Rubio but with a higher ceiling. Lee’s outside shooting is also developing, but he impressed when given the chance to play. He could develop into a solid backup point guard in the mold of Ish Smith. Then, there is Cory Joseph and Dennis Smith. I really like Dennis Smith as a pace-controlling point with excellent defensive instincts. I still think he will develop into a good player, but I’m not sure it will be with Detroit. Joseph has been excellent during his time in Detroit. I do worry he is a little ball-dominant but I think that could be alright if he is the backup going forward. I prefer point guards that get people involved, get the offense going, and control the pace of the game. Chauncey Billups is an excellent example of this type of point. He knew when to get his offense but focused first on getting other players involved and, I believe, was underrated at his ability to control the pace of a game.
SGs
The Pistons may not be certain of the answer here as of yet. Perhaps it will be addressed in the draft. Josh Jackson, Hamidou Diallo, Frank Jackson each offer strong cases for rotation spots going forward. Josh Jackson was impressive all year. His energy typifies what a Detroit player brings to the game every night. His decision-making improved over the course of the season. I hope to see him in Detroit for a long time. Diallo offers similar abilities with his slashing and excellent defense. Diallo could also become an elite playmaker. Both players' outside shooting is still developing, but Frank Jackson makes up for that. Coming off the bench, he provides instant offense and fills the Pistons' desperate need of floor spacing. I hope to see all three back next year and believe there is space in the rotation for all three. That will, of course, depend on the draft. The Pistons also got a great season from Wayne Ellington. I’ll be curious to see if they bring him back or not. He played well and had a streak of 3-point shooting that was something to watch. With the improved play of Frank Jackson, I’d be surprised to see both Ellington and Rodney McGruder back. McGruder played well in limited playing time but the two of them provide a veteran presence, and Ellington’s outside shooting provides an edge.
Forwards
The primary scorer for the Pistons this year was Jerami Grant. Grant provides scoring and strong defense. At the moment, he is the Pistons' best player. Furthermore, he is an upgrade over Blake Griffin. He can score without dominating the ball, too, which is important. This team plays the best when the ball is moving and people are moving. Grant cuts without the ball and makes quick decisions. Sadiq Bey could be coming for that moniker of the best scorer as soon as next season. His outside shooting has been impressive and he continues developing his ability to score off the dribble. Bey also provides strong defense; A common thread among these Pistons. Sekou Doumbouya didn’t play much this year but showed growth in extended minutes down the stretch of the season. His off-ball movement and improved defense are things to keep an eye out for next season. If his jump shot continues to grow, he’ll be a real offensive threat with the second unit. Deividas Sirvydis didn’t see much time but showed in limited minutes at the end of the season that, at 20 years old, he is worth keeping as he continues developing.
Centers
Mason Plumlee had a career year and provided rebounding and solid defense. I never realized how bad a defender Andre Drummond was until this year. Also, I didn’t realize that Drummond couldn’t set screens. While it seems wrong to say, Plumlee is an improvement over Drummond. While Drummond is the more talented player, Plumlee plays his role, stays consistent, and rarely tries to do too much. Isaiah Stewart is my favorite of the Piston rookies. He embodies the Detroit style of play and could be the next chapter in the hustling All-Star of Pistons' tradition following in the footsteps of Dennis Rodman and Ben Wallace. Between Plumlee and Stewart, the effort is non-stop and there is no drop-off in play. Stewart could develop into the most special player from this Pistons team. Jahlil Okafor got hurt early in the season, but he is undoubtedly the Pistons' best post-up player. His offensive game makes him worth keeping on the team. It’s really terrible that there isn’t enough playing time for all three of them but that is a good problem to have. Tyler Cook is another player I’d like the Pistons to keep going forward. I don’t believe he will be a rotation player but he plays well in spot minutes and brings energy into the game. He, like everyone else in this article, plays like a Piston.
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Overall, the Pistons have hard choices to make this off-season. I hope to see everyone back but that’s not likely. I do think it is important that most of the players return. I’d like to see the team develop with a full off-season together. Last year, a shortened off-season was exacerbated by the high turnover of personnel. Going into next year with the same core and a lottery selection makes the Pistons ready for a large jump in wins. The quality of play this year was high enough to win more games. Next year, with consistency and familiarity, I fully expect a playoff appearance. I’ll top that. I expect them to make the playoffs as a 5 or 6 seed. The fast development of the youth and the style of play makes me optimistic for the first time in a long time. I think the fans could be witnessing the third great era of Pistons basketball.