NBA Detroit Pistons

2015 NBA All-Star Game: Early Predictions For Detroit Pistons

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By @b2brennan

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The Detroit Pistons are one of the most disappointing teams in the NBA this season and that is why they have no all-stars. Sitting at 5-21 with new coach Stan Van Gundy, the Pistons were once thought to be on the rise. All-Star level talent hasn’t turned out, and I don’t expect the Pistons to have any representatives this year for the long weekend in February.

The notable names on the Pistons are Brandon Jennings, Greg Monroe, Josh Smith and Andre Drummond.

Jennings is having his worst season of his career. His scoring, shooting and PER have dropped this year, and he’s a big reason why the Pistons aren’t successful. He passes up open lay-ups to take fade-away mid-range jumpers which is probably why his numbers are down.

Monroe is actually having a solid statistical season, but his numbers are also down from the last few years. He was a consistent starter before Smith arrived, but since then, along with his DUI at the beginning of the year, he’s moved to the bench player role. Monroe is playing only a few minutes less per game than his previous years and is posting 14.5 PPG and 9.0 RPG. Those are solid numbers, but he is not All-Star worthy in my book.

Smith is probably the most talented player in the league who makes his team worse. Smith used to be in All-Star consideration for a number of years with the Atlanta Hawks, but since signing with Detroit, his game has changed. He is another Piston having one of the worst years of his career, and it’s big reason why he has been widely considered the most overpaid and overrated player in the league.

Lastly, the only Piston in my opinion with a remote chance of getting into the all-Star Game is Drummond. He is first in the league in offensive rebounds per game (4.6) and first in the East in rebounds per game (12.3). Drummond also posts top 10 scoring numbers among centers at 12.3 PPG. These look like great numbers, but the fact is there are a number of centers in the Eastern Conference playing better for better teams, so he takes a backseat.

As you can see above, there really isn’t any Piston in consideration for the All-Star Game. If they can make a big turnaround and improve their record, Drummond might get into All-Star consideration, but at this time Detroit players are staying home for the break.

Prediction: No All-Stars.

Brian Brennan is a Portland Trail Blazers writer for www.Rantsports.com. Follow him on twitter @b2brennan.

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