Fansided

NBA Season Preview 2017-18: The Detroit Pistons will be okay

By Matt Rutkowski

DETROIT, MI - JULY 26: The Detroit Pistons introduce two new uniforms by Nike on July 26, 2017 at the Nike Store in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - JULY 26: The Detroit Pistons introduce two new uniforms by Nike on July 26, 2017 at the Nike Store in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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I’m not sure there is an overarching narrative to apply to the Detroit Pistons. Going through the stages of grief is too basic. Some people are over last season, and some people are not. Regardless, no one is in a good place. Each person’s thoughts are their own personal Pistons pigeon pecking about the park of pain.

That’s a tongue twister I invented. You’re invited to say it over and over again. Tongue twisters aren’t fun, but they’re more fun than Reggie Jackson’s performance last year.

I don’t mind pigeons. Some people call them disease-infested flying rats, but I don’t do that. I also don’t mind rats that much. I’m less fond of disease.

What’s the largest uncommon house pet you think you could finish in one sitting?

If it feels like I’m stalling it’s because I am. It’s only been a few days since I’ve felt like I’ve let last season go. It was a nice moment realizing I could exist in a mental space that didn’t repeatedly elbow me in the emotional kidneys. I’d like to stay here a while. I want to pitch a hammock and listen to Styx babble. Thinking about the future means moving on.

I only made one prediction about the NBA season last year, and it was that the Pistons would be fun. Some people consider right and wrong to be absolute adjectives rather than comparative, and if I accomplished anything in my prediction it’s that I proved the latter correct. I could not possibly have been more wronger. How does one match that kind of performance? There’s only so much damage one can do to prescriptive grammarians at the cost of one’s own soul.

Unfortunately, next year will happen, and we’ll have to face the prospect of it lest we go into the season emotionally underprepared. Is this a redemption story, and if it is, is it a good redemption arc or a Theon Greyjoy redemption arc? Was last year an aberration or was the year before? Am I going be very, very sad again?

I don’t want to ask these questions. I don’t want to think about it. Let’s think about dogs. Dogs will be my armor.

https://twitter.com/CuteEmergency/status/907052340909412356

If you listen to Duncan Smith on Fastbreak Breakfast, you can here a man smarter than me put the thoughts of hope into better words than I can. I credit Ser Duncan with the current placid state of my existence. That said, there are a lot of ifs.

If Andre Drummond’s now-repaired deviated septum was truly the cause of his inconsistency last year, then this year could see him return to something close to 2015-16 form. Andre Drummond two years ago was a monster. That monster was my favorite player in the NBA. He was young and athletic with room to improve. He could be a perennial all-star just short of potential superstar. Sure he’d probably never reach that level, but he could peek at it. He’s very tall, you see. If that Andre returns, so does much of the joy.

If Reggie Jackson’s health was really the cause of his disastrous last season, then this year should be a big step up based on that alone. Jackson has always been a player you believed in at your own peril, but he has moments. He was an unknown quantity with ridiculous self-confidence, and that combination can be dangerous. The combination of healthy and able Drummond and Jackson in the pick and roll is dangerouser. If that returns, so do many of the wins.

If Tobias Harris continues to play well and play more, then that’d be good. He’s better than Leuer, and more fun than Leuer, and easier to root for as a person than Leuer simply because Tobias seems like the greatest dude ever. If SVG’s belief in him returns, so does my belief in the heart of the team.

If Avery Bradley can be what we hoped KCP would turn into, then that trade is worth it. Who knows if KCP will ever be able to shoot. That’s not a problem with Bradley. There’s a risk in trading four years of very expensive unknown for one year of fairly expensive known. If that works out, then this year’s ceiling gets a bit taller.

If Stanley Johnson can finally put himself together as a player, then the Pistons can finally present a different look than the 1-5 “mostly good at a good amount of basketball stuff” lineup they’ve been trying to roll with. There’s not really anyone on the Pistons that other teams would hate playing against. Stanley could be that guy. If he can find a way to stay on the floor, the floor becomes lava.

If Boban, then hooray!

Oh no that last one was a cat. We’re screwed.

Next: Five big questions for the NBA's rookie class

This is a lot of ifs. On the other hand, last year was a lot of ifs that went the other way. I don’t know how much of last year is replicable, or how much of this list is possible. In all likelihood, this year will between somewhere between the last two. I guess that’s okay. I’m okay. The Detroit Pistons are okay.

It’ll be okay.