The Detroit Pistons Have Issues: What to Watch For This Season

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As the NBA season fast approaches, the Detroit Pistons and their fans are in unfamiliar territory.  For the first time since the beginning of this decade, the Pistons are not considered to be serious contenders for a championship.

Here is a look at some of the issues facing this team.

What is the Biggest Challenge Facing this Pistons Team this Season?

Far and away the biggest weakness on this team is their front court defense.  In the past, it was easy to forget about the interior because Detroit typically had one of the strongest post defenses in the game.

This just is not the case anymore.  For all the headaches he provided, Rasheed Wallace always supplied an underrated ability to disrupt opposing offenses in the post.  Wallace is a cerebral player on defense, and he had an uncanny knack for playing angles and using his length and wingspan to close passing lanes.

Additionally, the loss of Antonio McDyess will surely be felt.  McDyess was sneaky strong and knew how to put himself in a great spot to grab rebounds.  Certain players just have a nose for the ball, and McDyess definitely fits that bill.

With both players gone, you are losing a tremendous amount of defensive intelligence and leadership. 

The players that will take over their roles will be a collection of veterans that have not lived up to expectations or are past their prime.  Furthermore, none of them have been vocal leaders.  This is not a good combination.

Chris Wilcox is a physical specimen, but his basketball IQ leaves a lot to be desired.  He will flash glimpses of promise, but is not much more than a William Bedford clone.  Look for him to find his way into Kuester's doghouse with lackadaisical play.

Kwame Brown, for all of his weaknesses on offense, is a solid, on-the-ball defender and should benefit from Ben Wallace's expertise.  Look for him to take a major step forward defensively.  However, he has shown a lack of concentration throughout his career, and that likely will continue at points.

Wallace has little left in the tank, and is capable of not much more than 10-15 minutes of position defense.  His athleticism was his biggest strength, and he just does not have that anymore.

Jason Maxiell is as strong as an ox, but his lack of height will really hurt him against taller players.  Maxiell is a throwback to the days when undersized power forwards like Charles Barkley could find a niche in the game.  Today's NBA is geared towards long and lean, leaving Maxiell as a round peg in a square hole.

The real wildcard of this bunch is rookie Jonas Jerebko from Sweden.  So far during the preseason he has shown an ability to play at a high energy level for long stretches of time, and does not appear to back down from contact.  If he can develop into a David Lee type of player, his energy could be infectious. 

However, he is incredibly raw, so expectations may have to be somewhat tempered.

Realistically, you are looking at a Detroit front court that has a lot of holes and will look bad on some nights.  Initially, the help-side defense will be nonexistent, and that will result in some early season shootouts.  The key will be whether or not they buy into first-year coach John Kuester's system and gel together as a unit.

Additionally, the effectiveness of this unit could hinge on whether or not the back court is able to keep opposing players out of the paint and ease the pressure on the front court.

What About Charlie Villanueva?

What about him?  Villanueva should supply some fireworks on offense, but defensively he will provide little more than a warm body.

Athletically, there is no reason to believe he can not become a solid defender.  However, thus far in his career, he has treated the defensive end of the court as a breather before he was able to get back on offense.

Great defensive teams are not necessarily a collection of great individual defensive players. Rather, they are a cohesive unit that has bought into playing great defense.  Before coming to Detroit, Chauncey Billups and Rip Hamilton were not considered great defenders, but they developed into tremendous team defenders.

Can Villanueva become a great defender?  Probably not.  But lightning could strike, and he could become a strong team defender.

What Should Piston Fans Expect from Austin Daye?

So far during the preseason, rookie Austin Daye has looked good.  He has shown glimpses of why he was drafted so high in the draft.  He has serious range on his jumper, which coupled with his tremendous length, should make his shot nearly un-blockable.

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