Comments on: Sports Illustrated’s Zach Lowe: Pistons could push .500 mark next season

By: Murph

Murph — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 11:26:28 +0000

I doubt if we can play .500.

The problem is that although we’re getting Jerebko back, we’ll probably be losing Prince and McGrady, who were two of our better players last year. And I doubt if Knight or Singler will be ready to contribue in any major way this year. What would help the most is if we’re able to sign a free agent big man who can start along side Monroe, such as Deandre Jordan, who can provide rebounding, shot blocking and intereior defense. That would represent a significant upgrade over Wilcox.

However, the bar was set pretty low by John Kuester. All Frank has do to have a successful season is win more games than last year, while keeping the players and the locker room quiet and focused.

Frank needs to approach the Pistons in the same way Woodson approached the Hawks. If the Pistons can improve incrementally every year, under Frank, he will have success and a long tenure here.

(Of course, all of this assumes we’ll actually play this year.)

By: Jodi Jezz

Jodi Jezz — Mon, 25 Jul 2011 02:26:09 +0000

I can see us being +.500 if we trade for a good center that can complement Monroe… I think if Frank gives Gordon his starting mins, Stuckey plays well as a combo guard (PG and SG), and Knight comes along well off the bench with either stuckey or gordon beside him, we will be just fine!! We just need to find a starting SF, i dont know if Daye is ready for that defensively.

By: mubin

mubin — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 19:09:58 +0000

they wont make .500 unless the team coaperates and proves they can comeback from games and hold leads. If the aquire Paul Milsap in a trade for rip and someone like stucky, thay will defenatly be above .500 maybee even 46-48 wins.

By: brgulker

brgulker — Sun, 24 Jul 2011 02:01:44 +0000

I think .500 is overly optimistic.

We’re losing two significant pieces of the rotation in Wilcox (presumably) and McGrady. Ben Wallace will be a year older and capable of playing less.

Monroe will hopefully be better, and Jerebko will be back. Does that make up the above difference? I don’t know, maybe.

Knight won’t contribute much, and the other rookies probably shouldn’t make the team.

Let’s remember, this is our frontcourt: Monroe, Jerebko, Maxiell, Ben Wallace, Villanueva. The backcourt isn’t any better.

35 wins would be very, very successful in terms of WL. .500 would be a small miracle.

By: BIG MARV

BIG MARV — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 22:55:24 +0000

I don’t think it will happen this year because of this lockout, already the team is behind and Brandon knight is not working with his team or coaches and that is important if hes playing PG hes gotta know his team and the plays. If the NBA gets off to a late start it will def not happen because detroit is not a Veteran team to overcome that half-season hill and trust their players to make a playoff run. With a young new floor general and a first year head coach… I see this team at least 5 games under .500 I think they will have enough good young guys to win most games off of pure talent. I think next year (if the NBA don’t miss a season) will defiantly be at .500 next year and should have a steady standing at 6-8th place. As you can see my comment is all based on this crazy lockout just like alot of these other topics

By: Dan Feldman

Dan Feldman — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 17:24:17 +0000

I think last year’s team was capable of playing close to .500, even if they never showed that potential. But like you said, it’s scary to think how much less ability next year’s team might have if all those guys walk away. On the bright side, I think it would be easier to get behind a young team that plays hard, even if it loses more.

By: Dan Feldman

Dan Feldman — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 17:10:47 +0000

"I don’t think .500 is out of the question either but you have to remember that we aren’t the only team that just drafted an effective rookie. I personally think the return of Jonas Jerebko will make more of an impact than Knight." Bingo, and although I like Knight in the long term, plenty of teams drafted players more ready to help next year.

By: Dan Feldman

Dan Feldman — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 17:09:09 +0000

I think "should have been .500" is pushing it, but I think they could've been .500. They playoffs, an even lower standard, were definitely attainable.

By: Dan Feldman

Dan Feldman — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 17:02:34 +0000

If the Pistons are five points per game better on defense, they’ll win at least 48 games. That’s a HUGE improvement, especially at the slow pace the Pistons play.

I don’t but that Knight will be better than Stuckey at point guard immediately. Stuckey has proven he’s a capable NBA starter. Maybe he’s not much more, but he’s at least that. Knight was fairly inefficient at Kentucky last year.

By: neutes

neutes — Sat, 23 Jul 2011 05:23:35 +0000

I don’t see .500 at all. I like that Jerebko is back. He’ll provide a boost along with an improved Monroe. Stuckey would have to play really well, and consistently, and Knight would have to play sparingly as a backup for .500 to become even close to a reality. Losing Prince, Mcgrady, and Wilcox is costing a lot of production. I don’t think Daye, Jerebko, and Knight are going to make up for it. I’m not counting on Gordon, Rip, or CV for anything, and I don’t think Frank instantly makes any of them more productive. If the team is scratching .500 it will be because Stuckey and Monroe become the players they have the potential to be.