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Mediocrity in Motown: The Detroit Pistons need to bounce back in 2017-18

By Evan Dyal

AUBURN HILLS, MI - APRIL 05: Andre Drummond #0 of the Detroit Pistons reacts late in the game during a 105-103 loss to the Toronto Raptors at the Palace of Auburn Hills on April 5, 2017 in Auburn Hills, 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. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images)
AUBURN HILLS, MI - APRIL 05: Andre Drummond #0 of the Detroit Pistons reacts late in the game during a 105-103 loss to the Toronto Raptors at the Palace of Auburn Hills on April 5, 2017 in Auburn Hills, 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. (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /
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AUBURN HILLS, MI – APRIL 05: Andre Drummond
AUBURN HILLS, MI – APRIL 05: Andre Drummond /

The Detroit Pistons took a step back last season and now appeared to be stuck in mediocrity. Here is what went wrong and how they can fix it

Things can change fast in the NBA. Two years ago the Detroit Pistons were a team on the rise. Detroit was 44-38 and made the playoffs for the first time in six years. The Cleveland Cavaliers swept them in the first round, but every game was close. Detroit was an eight seed on the rise, not a pathetic eight seed that was there simply due to a weak conference.

All the ingredients were there. They have a respected head coach (Stan Van Gundy), who had been to the NBA Finals before and exciting and improving young players in Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson.

Then, last year happened. The Detroit Pistons dropped from 44-38 to 37-45 and missed the playoffs entirely. Things went off the rails. Everything that could go wrong went wrong. Now, Detroit is in one of the scariest places in the NBA: No man’s land.

No man’s land means you lack direction, you’re stuck in mediocrity. No clear way to improve, yet not bad enough to draft a game changing player. Detroit is an organisation that has more questions than answers. To try to answer these questions, let’s look at what went wrong last season.

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