NBA Season Preview 2017-18: What’s the deal with Andre Drummond’s post-ups?

Post-ups are a key component to the Pistons’ offense. With it making up 8.6 percent of their offensive possessions last season, they ranked behind only the Grizzlies (11.6 percent), Timberwolves (10.1 percent), Thunder (10.1 percent) and Spurs (9.3 percent) in post-up frequency. The problem is the Pistons averaged 0.83 points per post-up possession, which put them in the 17.2 percentile slightly ahead of the Rockets, Magic, Warriors, Lakers and Suns at the bottom of the league.

The main reason for both their frequency and inefficiency in the post is Andre Drummond. Of the 636 shots the Pistons attempted out of the post, 277 came from Drummond. The only players to attempt more shots out of the post than him on the season were Zach Randolph (298), LaMarcus Aldridge (336), Marc Gasol (356) and Karl-Anthony Towns (371). They made up 27.5 percent of Drummond’s offense in total, and he ranked in the 19.5 percentile with 0.73 points per possession.

Giving Drummond touches in the post isn’t necessarily a bad idea. He’s still only 23, and being able to create his own offense against opposing big men or smaller defenders on switches with his back to the basket would help him reach his full potential offensively. However, he hasn’t shown much growth as a post-up scorer in the last three season and post-ups continue to be where he generates the bulk of his offense.

There is a trend with those possessions as well. According to NBA.com, 341 of the 911 field goals Drummond attempted last season were hook shots. Despite the fact that he made only 43.1 percent of those opportunities, they were his most used shot type. His next most used shot types were layups (322 attempts) and dunks (134 attempts), both of which he made at a rate of 59.0 percent or greater.

It’s not as though Drummond hasn’t shown any potential as a post-up scorer. There are times when he uses his big frame to establish deep post position and then capitalizes by rising over opposing centers for smooth hook shots in the paint. They’re the type of post-up possessions Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy wants to see from him — quick, decisive and within the flow of the offense.

Drummond has even showcased some decent footwork in the post and the ability to make hook shots with his opposite hand.

But more often than not, those possessions end Drummond fading away for a shot most centers would struggle with. Some of it might be out of fear of getting fouled because Drummond has a history of struggling at the free throw line. He already gets fouled a decent amount on his post-up possessions — 17.1 percent last season — so it might be his way of avoiding further contact. As ESPN’s Zach Lowe explained, it might also be why he doesn’t face-up and drive with greater frequency.

Furthermore, Drummond’s post-ups rarely generate offense for others. Although he received 6.9 post touches per game last season, he passed out of them 0.6 times per game for 0.1 assists per game. The only center to appear in at least 25 games who passed out of the post less frequently than Drummond (8.6 percent) was Donatas Motiejunas (7.9 percent). Even Dwight Howard, who Drummond has been compared to many times throughout his career, passed on 15.3 percent of his post-ups.

Next: The Pistons need Avery Bradley to be the player he’s become

While Drummond’s post-ups obviously aren’t the only reason the Pistons ranked 25th in offensive efficiency last season, they do limit the team’s ceiling offensively due to how much he relies on them. It might therefore be time for the Pistons to go to him less in the post until he shows significant signs of improvement. Eliminating them from his game entirely isn’t the answer, but focusing less on post-ups to be more involved in pick-and-rolls and transition opportunities might help Drummond look more like the All-Star he was in 2015-16 than the player he was in 2016-17.