Are the Detroit Pistons a playoff team yet?

[fadedmario]

Debate why or why not.

[MintBerryCrunch]

Troll?

[Hawkeye15]

Without seeing what Drummond is able to do from the start, I am reserving my opinion on this. Will Knight have a nice improvement this season? Does Monroe take another step forward? Does Rodney Stuckey have a bounceback year?

They certainly could if Drummond plays better than expected early (remember, he is looked at because of his potential, not early production), and if Monroe morphs into a top 10 PF/C.

[Boston-Born]

If they are a top 8 team in the East, then yes. If not, I doubt it.

[JasonJohnHorn]

I would say no. Unless Drummon has the kind of rookie year that guys like Shaq, Duncan and Robinson had, I just don't see them having the kind of talent that will make them a playoff team. I also need to see more of Knight. Is he going to improve? And Stuckey needs to go. He is clearly not the PG this team needs. I'm confident that Monroe will show some improvement, but I also believe that he is pretty much as good as he's going to get. Of that I hope I'm wrong, because I am a Detroit fan. Detroit does have some depth in the front court now, but it's back court is still week, and it's front court can dominate with what they have, even with the depth they know how in the front, because other teams' players are simply better.

So... I expect them to be in the lottery again, though not low enough in the lottery that it means they get to keep their pick (I'm still shaking my head at that trade).

[topdog]

The future looks better, but I don't see them making any huge strides this next year.

-Knight is too small and plays too similarly (from what I have seen) to Stuckey. Both are undersized.
-Villanueva is still useless and cap-clogging.
-Drummond is going to take a couple years to develop and may find himself combating foul trouble early on.
-Daye seems to have busted
-Jerebko and Prince seem to be pretty much all they are ever going to be
-Maggette will score and get to the line, but has always played selfishly and will not help to win (if he plays)
-Monroe is the hope of the franchise and a couple of teams will be kicking themselves for passing on him

[mark1125]

I think they could sneak into the 8th spot. They are starting to put together some nice players. If I were a betting man, I would sa next year is more likely. They did good to unload Gordon and need to amnesty Villanueva. Monroe, Knight are a nice start and I am one that thinks Drummond will be a nice center in a few years.

They are on the upswing, but still another year or 2 away from being relevant again.

[Badluck33]

no.

[Method28]

Unless Monroe makes the all star team...and he's the 2nd best big on the team for the season...then I highly doubt it

[ThunderousDemon]

No, because getting one unproven rookie doesn't make you a playoff contender.

[alexander_37]

No.

[dtmagnet]

I don't think so, Drummond has a few years before he's useful imo.

[Burkey3472]

No. Drummond might have a nice future but he isn't going to have a major impact (at least offensively) his first season. He looked absolutely lost at times at Uconn and now he is going against NBA talent who will outsmart him on a night to night basis. They have a nice young core but they still need work.

[TheWhiteMamba]

Heat
Pacers
Celtics
Knicks
Hawks
Sixers
Bulls
Magic (Assuming they trade Dwight)


NO.

[5ass]

All depends on what drummond can give them, but they have the right core. A good PG, and 2 big men with the potential to become great players.