DETROIT – The Detroit Pistons are heading into the new season as a popular sleeper pick, but can they live up to the hype?
The Pistons are coming off a disappointing 2016-17 season, failing to make the playoffs just one year after clinching a spot for the first time in several years.
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Heading into the 2017-18 NBA season, the Pistons look healthier than last year, with Reggie Jackson ready to go, and Andre Drummond looking slimmer and more focused.
Here's where experts are ranking the Pistons as the regular season approaches:
Sports Illustrated: Pistons - No. 19: This seems like it could be a playoff team. It all depends on whether or not Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson play consistent basketball. Don’t sleep on them.
CBS Sports: Pistons - No. 19: Skepticism is smart with Detroit after how badly everything went last season, but with a weak East to beat up on, they could find their way to a good season very easily. Andre Drummond remains the bellwether.
Bleacher Report: Pistons - No. 13
NBA.com: Pistons - No. 19: The Pistons are one of the East teams that could move up in the standings just by (mostly) standing pat. But standing pat meant keeping the pair of Jackson and Andre Drummond, who were pretty awful together last season. Detroit was outscored by 8.3 points per 100 possessions with both on the floor (with numbers that would have ranked 28th both offensively and defensively) and outscored their opponents by 8.1 with both on the bench. If Jackson's knee pain was the main issue last season, if he's healthy this season, and if he can play like he did at the end of the '15-16 season, the Pistons will be better.