State of the Pistons

After 25 games the Pistons are 11-24. Granted they’re close to last place in the Eastern Conference, but I think there are still some positive signs from this team. When looking at players to evaluate, you always start with Greg Monroe when you talk about the Pistons. I feel it’s a crying shame that he didn’t get an All-Star nod this year. He did well in the Young Stars game, but I feel he has the potential to be a star in this league, that’s if he can work on his foul trouble. Another positive sign for the Pistons this year is rookie PG Brandon Knight. Knight was their first round draft pick, and I feel he not only has lived up to expectations, but has the potential to surpass them. The only negatives I see with him are that on certain nights he tends to play very inconsistently. He’ll need to step up night-in and night-out for the Pistons to get better.

I’ve never been a fan of Tayshaun Prince. I feel he wore out his welcome with the team last year. I feel he makes too many mental mistakes, his shot selection is terrible, and he really causes a lot of dissension in an already messed up locker room. I feel the Pistons made a terrible mistake not trading him in the offseason. Even if they couldn’t get anyone for him, they could’ve at least considered giving him his outright release. Ben Wallace isn’t the man who makes people “Fear the Fro” anymore. He’s 38, past his prime, and his glory days of being defensive player of the year are behind him. I feel it’s his last year, and his final swan song with the Pistons.

Rodney Stuckey definitely has the potential to be a great point guard too. He’s put a miserable injury-riddled season behind him, and has stepped up to the plate on numerous occasions for the Pistons. The biggest question for the Pistons is their reserves and bench players. Players like Charlie Villaneuva and Austin Daye have been major disappointments for them, while players like Jonas Jerebko, Ben Gordon, Vernon Macklin, and Jason Maxiell have made significant contributions.

The players I feel need to have a more defined role in the second half are Will Bynum, Damien Wilkins, and Walker Russell. I feel they have had a hard time cracking Lawrence Frank’s lineup and their playing time is limited. I feel out of all three of these players, Bynum has the most potential to make an impact in the second half. I don’t see the Pistons making the playoffs or finishing with a very strong record, but on the positive side, at least they’re putting pieces in place for the future; a future that hopefully will be very promising for them in the long run.