NBA Detroit Pistons

Predicting the Detroit Pistons’ 2014-15 Win Total

Fresh Videos

By @Kramerica100

Getty Images

Getty Images

The Detroit Pistons head into the 2014-15 NBA season with some real optimism for the first time in awhile. No longer having Joe Dumars running the team will do that. While most of the good vibes are merely due to the change in the front office and coaching staff, the team on the floor appears to be improved as well. New coach/general manager Stan Van Gundy was able to address a few of the team needs. His presence alone will be a huge improvement over the past run of head coaches to have traveled through Detroit.

On the court, it all starts with Andre Drummond. The Pistons’ big man had a busy summer playing with Team USA in the FIBA World Cup. He didn’t get a lot of playing time in the tournament, but it should have been a good experience for him playing with some of the best players in the game. Drummond should benefit from having Van Gundy as a coach, and I expect him to have a big season.

The problem for Detroit is that the bright spots are harder to find after Drummond and Van Gundy. There are individual players with obvious talent such as Josh Smith, Greg Monroe and Brandon Jennings, but they should never be put together on the same court. The roster makeup is the biggest issue facing Van Gundy in his first season. Last season, Maurice Cheeks tried playing Smith, Monroe and Drummond together, which is one of the many reasons why he is no longer the coach. I doubt Van Gundy will make the same mistake, but finding the right rotations will be difficult.

If that’s not enough, the Pistons’ biggest free agent acquisition, Jodie Meeks, will be sidelined for eight weeks due to a back injury. Meeks was expected to improve Detroit’s outside shooting woes. His injury means that second-year player Kentavious Caldwell-Pope will see extended minutes. He looked good in the summer league but is coming off of an injury of his own. However, Detroit is expecting him to be ready for the season opener.

Being in the Eastern Conference will certainly help any team’s win/loss record at the end of the season. Detroit hasn’t won over 30 games since the 2008-09 season but should have a good chance to do so this year. If they don’t, Van Gundy will surely have some memorable postgame press conferences. In the end, I think the Pistons will finish at 38-44, just missing out on the playoffs for the sixth straight year.

Share Tweet
Trending Now on