It’s been anything but smooth sailing for a franchise that formerly enjoyed successive sold-out games, winning seasons, a 2004 NBA championship, and six straight Eastern Conference Finals appearances from 2003-2008.
The most challenging thing for Pistons fans in recent years has been watching a team, which once embodied the heart and blue-collar mentality of Detroit, fall into obscurity in recent years, going from being arguably the city’s best sports team to being undoubtedly the worst.
But, this could be the year it all turns around.
The organization made huge strides this offseason. The most significant were the free-agent signings of forward Josh Smith and guard Chauncey Billups, as well as the trade that brought guard Brandon Jennings over from Milwaukee (for Brandon Knight).
So far this season, as Detroit’s record stands at 2-1, Smith has impacted the game in a variety of ways. In the first three games, he’s averaged 17.7 points, 6.7 rebounds, 4.3 assists and 2.0 blocks. Combined with forward Greg Monroe’s 18.3 points per game and center Andre Drummond’s 12 rebounds per contest, the Pistons’ front three have been a threat for opposing frontcourts on defense and on the boards. Hopefully, the more they play together, the better they’ll be as a unit.
Billups, so far, has shown glimpses of what gave him the nickname “Mr. Bigshot”. In the season-opener, Billups put in 16 points and five assists, including a huge 3-pointer to help secure the 113-102 win on opening night, over the Washington Wizards.
Jennings returned to the lineup (from injury) Sunday night against Boston to contribute 14 points, 4 assists and 4 steals to a ten-point victory (87-77) against the Celtics.
The squad has also gotten ample production (in the young season) from guards Rodney Stuckey, Will Bynum, and rookie first-round pick Kentavious Caldwell-Pope.
To get a feel of the excitement for the 2013-2014 season, from a fan’s perspective, I asked a few Pistons fans how they felt about the team’s pickups and chances to make the playoffs.
One person told me this: “I think Jennings and Smith were both good pickups. They have both established themselves as elite players in the league and should open the door for the Pistons to make the playoffs.”
Another source said it was a good move for the Pistons to bring back Chauncey Billups. “He won a championship in Detroit and has the knowledge and experience to be a leader on the team.” They go on to say, “I think (the Pistons) will make the playoffs as a (No.) 6 or 7 seed. I think they are gonna be better than people think. They have a lot of talent on the team, young talent at that.”
The talent on the team this season has obviously been better than in recent years. However, Detroit’s success will depend fairly on new head coach Maurice Cheeks.
Cheeks has had success in the NBA as an assistant coach, most recently with the Oklahoma City Thunder. He has also been to the playoffs with the Portland Trailblazers and Philadelphia 76ers; he looks to make the Pistons the third team he takes to the postseason.
If he and this Detroit team can achieve this feat, they will definitely recapture this great sports city, with chants of “Deeeeee-troooooiiiit Baaask-et-baaaaallllll!”
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