Detroit Pistons: 30 Team Previews in 30 Days

2009-'10 Standings

Finished 27-55, fifth in Central Division, 12th in Eastern Conference

Postseason

Missed Postseason

Additions and Re-Signings

Greg Monroe via draft, Terrico White via draft, and Ben Wallace via re-signing.

Losses

None

If you told me five years ago that the Detroit Pistons would be winning less than 30 games in a season, I probably would have called you a liar and said that you were insane. Five years ago the Pistons were a 64-win team that was wiping the floor with its Eastern Conference foes.

Flash forward to the 2009-10 season, and the Pistons have lost only two pieces of the same starting lineup that won 50-plus games year in and year out. Except but now they are on the receiving end of the beat downs that they used to give out on a nightly basis.

At 27-53, last season was the Pistons worst since the 1993-'94 campaign, when they won only 20 games. It also marked the first time they missed the postseason in nine years.

This Pistons team is nowhere near the championship team it was six years prior, even with Richard Hamilton, Tayshaun Prince, and Ben Wallace still in the starting lineup. Each player does not appear to be the same person that went to six consecutive conference finals. And with a roster of young players and disappointment's, the Pistons woes might persist for a little while longer.

Richard Hamilton had the worst shooting year of his career last season when he shot 41 percent from the field and 30 percent from beyond the arc. He attempted the most 3-pointer's of any season in his career and it obviously affected his shooting performance and percentage. Rip has been the offensive leader for this team and has been known for having one of the smoothest jump shots in the league.

If you watched Pistons basketball last season, you would have never guessed that Rip and co. were only a few years removed from winning this team 60 games per season. His long time teammate, Tayshaun Prince, maintained his career average's, but to no avail for his Detroit squad. Even at 13 points and five rebounds per game, Prince could not lead his team back to the promise land of postseason basketball.

Detroit thought it struck gold when it signed Charlie Villanueva and Ben Gordon prior to the start of last season. But those thoughts were quickly put away when Gordon averaged a career low 14 points on 42 percent shooting as the team's sixth man. His 32 percent shooting from beyond the arc was also the lowest of his career, an extremely disappointing stat since Gordon thrives off of his long range shooting and ability to get hot from the field.

Gordon has been known to be one of the more dangerous shooters of the league when he gets on a hot streak, but Detroit rarely saw what they paid for as Gordon looked completely inept on offense at times.

The same disappointment can be shared with Villanueva, who saw his offensive production drop from 16 points to 12 as a member of the Pistons. He was also used off the bench along with Gordon, and neither provided the firepower that the Pistons were hoping for.

While the Pistons haven't received what they have wanted from their veterans, their young talent does provide hope for the future. The virtually unknown Jonas Jerebko averaged nine points on 48 percent shooting along with six rebounds as the team's starting power forward in his rookie season.

Lanky forward Austin Daye also impressed in his rookie debut with Detroit by averaged five points and two rebounds coming off the bench. Daye appears to be the taller reincarnation of Tayshaun Prince, but will need to add versatility and muscle to his game if he wants to thrive as a 6'11" forward. Bigger power forwards will handle Daye with ease if he doesn't put on more weight.

With Ben Wallace aging quickly, the Pistons wisely invested in a big man by drafting Greg Monroe out of Georgetown, who could be the starter at some point this season. Monroe averaged 16 points and 10 rebounds as the Hoya's starting center and has the size and post up game to pose a threat in the NBA in due time. Detroit should hope that Wallace can teach Monroe a thing or two about shot blocking, but leave the offensive game to the professionals.

Detroit basketball just isn't the same as it used to be and it was obvious last season when every hole was exposed. The Pistons have the talent to make a postseason run, but with no franchise-changing offseason moves, this is pretty much the same team that struggled last year. They must rely on Gordon and Villlanueva to perform how they did before they were wearing Pistons uniforms.

Glory years will come again Detroit. It's just going to take longer than usual.

Projected Starting Lineup

PG-Rodney Stuckey

SG-Richard Hamilton

SF-Tayshaun Prince

PF-Jonas Jerebko

C-Greg Monroe

Prediction

28-54

This is Part eight of a 30-day series of 2010-11 season previews of each NBA team. My profile will contain every other team that has been previewed before.