Detroit Pistons: We Have A Team!

April 15, 2013; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (1) and Philadelphia 76ers center Spencer Hawes (00) jump during tip off at the start of the game at The Palace. Mandatory Credit: Tim Fuller-USA TODAY Sports

Today as we have filled the final roster spot we will look at what we have and who will start.. We will also look at who Mo Cheeks will dress the majority of the games, and which players off the bench will play integral roles in this upcoming season.

With the Detroit Pistons signing free agent big man Josh Harrellson the Pistons now have their 15 man roster. I’m brimming with confidence as I look at the depth and the variety we have on the 15 man roster. We can only dress twelve for games and have three that do not. The three I see not dressing due to depth are Josh Harrellson, Peyton Silva. The third could be potentially one of these players Jonas Jerebko, Kyle Singler, Charlie Villanueva, or Tony Mitchell. Tony Mitchell is the odds on favorite for the final spot in my opinion. This is because he is a second round pick in his rookie season and the others have substantial NBA playing time. It’s not to say they will never play because injuries, trades, or working their way up the depth chart. Each scenario is all plausible throughout the season but Mitchell will more than likely start in the bottom. If we are putting anyone of those players in suits to stand next to the bench it means we have serious depth and experience.

Singler is going from a starter last season to seven or eight man in the rotation.  With Stuckey, Billups, Jennings, Bynum and the rookie Caldwell-Pope the Pistons have a cornucopia of depth and will fight over playing time.  I think they will minimize Billups minutes to keep him fresh as the season progresses as the other guards hopefully mature. Although if the games are close, and some will be, you can’t leave Mr. Big Shot on the bench and I don’t think Maurice “Mo” Cheeks will.

I think the opening day starters in the back court barring injury will be Jennings and Stuckey with Billups being the sixth man at this point. I honestly think the first big off the bench will actually be a small forward and Josh Smith will slide down to the four spot. The fourth spot is also where Singler can stake his claim on more minutes. I don’t see him passing any of the starters but he can be a valuable reserve player who can come in for stretches and make teams pay hitting three pointers.  To do that he needs to improve from his 35% percentage from last year. Do not sleep on Luigi Datome as he can light it up from deep and maybe will push Singler for time when Smith is either at the four spot or on the bench.

The front court is where we will see the Turnt Up Twins (Greg Monroe and Andre Drummond) get the most of the minutes and Josh Smith may eat up most remaining minutes as he can play the small forward, power forward, or against most team even center. Any remaining minutes left I can see Charlie Villanueva or Jonas Jerebko getting some as a power forward.

Overview

This team has made stupendous roster improvements with veteran leadership, three-point shooting, player development, and better athletes. Say what you want about Joe Dumars but this offseason he’s done just about everything you can do to put us in a winning situation. Honestly it really didn’t start this year.  It started when we drafted Greg Monroe. Hopefully this season can be the first of many season as a NBA power culminating in a few NBA championships.