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Which teams will round out Eastern Conference Playoffs picture?

By Brett David Roberts

Nov 29, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jae Crowder (99) guards Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon (00) during the second half of a basketball game at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 29, 2015; Orlando, FL, USA; Boston Celtics forward Jae Crowder (99) guards Orlando Magic forward Aaron Gordon (00) during the second half of a basketball game at Amway Center. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Stan Van Gundy, Detroit Pistons
Jan 9, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy (L) gestures from the sidelines during the second quarter against the Brooklyn Nets at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

Detroit Pistons 

Offensive Rating: No. 20 (101.1)
Defensive Rating: No. 8 (99.8)

Former Orlando Magic coach Stan Van Gundy has had a chance to tinker with his own roster and make some moves now, and all indications are that those moves have payed off fairly well.

The Detroit Pistons lost big man Greg Monroe in free agency and shot Josh Smith out of town last season. Despite those losses, the Pistons are a better team all things said.

Marcus Morris seems to have found a home in Detroit, and the team does not seem to be lacking inside though Monroe is having a nice season in Milwaukee.

The Pistons have an identity much like Van Gundy’s Magic teams did: a strong defense anchored by the league’s premiere big man — or at least one of the elite ones — in Andre Drummond. Drummond is still grabbing more than 15 rebounds per game this season and has become an entirely dominant center. He is averaging 18.1 points on 52.9 percent shooting.

The Pistons have their franchise player, and there are some nice pieces around him.

Reggie Jackson came over at the trade deadline last year and re-signed as a free agent in Detroit. He has been sensational at times for the Pistons. He is averaging 19.9 points and 6.4 assists per game as the only Piston other than Drummond to post a PER better than 20 (21.7).

The problem is that past Jackson and Drummond, the Pistons do lack for scoring punches. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Morris both average about 14 per game. Their offense leaves a lot to be desired despite the post-and-spread style Van Gundy made famous in Orlando. There is a lot of youth in the rotation.

The Pistons are going to have to become a more feared offensive team before it poses a major threat to the better teams in the East.

The foundation is there and Detroit hits 8.8 threes per game while shooting 33.5 percent from three as a team. That should be enough for Van Gundy to play his pieces and get this team over the hump, sooner or later.

Next: Magical Improvements?