Review Of The Pistons 2014-2015 Season
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Another long season has ended for pistons fans we had a good times then we had our bad times but we saw some progress even doe we are not in the playoffs for the six straight season ended the year at 32-50. When joe dumars was finally let go in early 2014 the pistons was looking for a new face to help put this franchise back on top they soon hired Stan Van Gundy who helped the magic become a playoff team for 5 straight years when they had Dwight Howard Van Gundy had had success as a Head Coach during his previous stops in Miami and most recently in Orlando. Success to the tune of a 371-208 record as an NBA Head Coach coming into the year. When Stan van Gundy came into the pistons situation all the pistons fans was happy we finally got a good head coach for the first time since Flip Sanders even tom gores the owner of the team liked him so much that he made him president of the team too, there are only 2 coaches who was president and head coach of the team and that is doc rivers and Greg Popovich SVG would be the next one to do that.
So SVG wanted to break down the roster a lot of pistons fan wanted josh smith to be traded or let go cause he was a horrible fit playing next to Monroe and Drummond last season putting the pistons last in mostly every offense category and he was lazy on defense and kept shooting dumb jumpers instead of going down in the post and getting a easy bucket. stan van gundy thought he be able to change that so he gave josh smith one more chance. Svg made some good free agent signings in the summer getting dj Augustin and giving Jodie Meeks 19 mill contract who had a breakout year for the lakers in the previous season, svg also signed Caron Butler who was a good veteran who could help this young team build and be put back on top.
When the season started the Pistons got off to a horrible start at 5-23 all the pistons fans was furious svg tried to everything to fit josh smith in the system but it didn't work he brought Monroe off the bench then he ran the offense through Josh Smith and that took a wrong turn Brandon Jennings was still struggling to fit in, the team defense was bad we was one of the worst free-throw shooting teams in the league and our offense was dead last all of the new additions we brought in wasn't planning out something had to change. So SVG Finally just released Josh Smith a couple of days before Christmas most of the fans was happy this would mean that Jennings would have to ball in his hands more and Monroe and Drummond would get more touches down low in the paint. The Pistons got crazy hot and went on a 7 game win streak beating some top caliber teams like Dallas, Spurs, Cavs and they also beat the Kings Magic Pacers and the Knicks most of those wins came on the road. All of the pistons fans was excited during this streak Brandon Jennings was playing the best basketball in his career he was averaging 20 pts. and 8 assists on 47% shooting from the field one his best games came against the spurs on a game winning layup and he scored 35 vs. the kings and the cavs, Kyle Singler was playing good become the starting sf and the team best 3pt shooter the pistons was rolling back in the playoffs climbing back up in the standings.
Then on January 24 the pistons was playing the bucks and Jennings tore his Achilles this was horrified to pistons fans they was finally playing good then everything went down the drain they was 12-2 in the last 14 games at that time. Svg gave Dj Augustin the starting pg spot things were ok but wasn't the same the pistons went 4-6 the last ten games going into all-star break svg deiced to make a big move that nobody expected. He traded for Reggie Jackson from okc he gave away DJ Augustin and Kyle Singler, then made a trade with Celtics giving away Jonas Jerebko and lugi datome for Tayshaun prince We was happy to have prince back in his hometown. In Reggie Jackson Debut vs. the wizards he was playing nervous and put him to much pressure on his self but in the 2nd he came back to his old self and scored 17 pts. 5 assists and 5 reb to finished the game the pistons won 106 to 89. Then the pistons started to struggle again they went on to lose a 10 games in row some of those games was close but they could pull it out most of the pistons started to bash Reggie Jackson and SVG saying that he ruined the team and all this other nonsense this losing streak put the pistons in a big hole they was falling deep out of the playoff race. Jackson was not playing shooting a bad percentage from the field and getting to many turnovers.
Then Monroe got hurt last 3 weeks of the season. In all of sudden the pistons started winning games Anthony Tolliver Started for the injured Monroe and the pistons had a winning record over the 16 games of the season going 9-7. But they was 8-3 without Greg Monroe. Jackson was averaging 20 pts. and 12 assists a game on 480. field goal percentage. He even had a 20 20 game against the Memphis Grizzles and got a triple double in the same week vs. the magic, pistons fans finally was seeing why SVG made that trade and the future was showing that him Andre Drummond had great chemistry, they was 2nd in the alley ops to finish the season pistons finished the year 32-50.
Bright Spots This Season
KCP- He improved on his ball handling and attack the rim better his points per game went up from 6 points game the previous season to 12 points a game this season. He only in his 2nd year if he keep getting stronger and become more consistent on the offense end he could become a great 2 way player in the league, Him and Jackson could become a top back-court for years to come.
Andre Drummond- He had a great season Andre was a double-double machine finishing the season top 3 in rebound and broke the NBA record for most offense rebounds in a single game with 17 offense rebounds he had 22 points that game and 27 rebounds one of his best games in his career. And had 48 double doubles this season, He improved on the offense end of the floor his post game got better with his hook shot he averaged 13.5 points a game with 13.5 rebounds a game on 51% shooting this is one player that the pistons should give a max contract to when that time comes.
Reggie Jackson Kcp And Andre Drummond Are The future of this franchise. The Pistons just need to build around them this upcoming draft and get a solid SF like justice Winslow or Stanley Johnson, And I think they should let Monroe walk and go hard after Lamarcus Aldridge and Draymond Green in free agency. Cause with Reggie Jackson as the starting pg of this team we are better of with a stretch 4 playing next to Drummond, next year we should be in in the playoffs with a healthy Brandon Jennings this team has a bright future.
