Tag: Blake Griffin

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The Detroit Pistons are going to begin to look different

The rebuild bug has hit another professional Detroit team. This time the Detroit Pistons have entered a rebuild. The organization could go part rebuild or all in. One thing is for certain, it will help the on court product in the long term, but as seen with the Lions, Red Wings and Tigers will pinch in the short term.

When building a roster that can compete, there needs to be at least one player to build around. For the Detroit Pistons when healthy Blake Griffin is and can be that player.

If the Pistons do go all in on the rebuild then they could part ways with Griffin who is sure to decline in production in the next two seasons. Detroit could trade him while he still has value and get a player or a draft pick.

One thing has become clear, in my opinion the Detroit Pistons should focus on a youth movement. Even if the keep Blake Griffin and gradually phase him out. Langston Galloway, Markieff Morris and Tony Snow are veterans with one year left on their current contracts. All could and should be moved for any assets the Pistons can get.

Christian Wood, Bruce Brown, Luke Kennard and Svi Mykhailiuk and Sekou Dumbouya along with the Pistons draft pick in this years 2020 NBA draft (No. 7 overall) will be the core new Pistons general manager Troy Weaver has to build around.

The Detroit Pistons have had problems signing big name free agents due in part to mediocre on court play. The best rout for the Pistons to go is build a team that attracts free agents, which will take time.

Rebuilds are not fun. There is no sugar coating that fact. The Lions know it. The Red Wings know it. The Lions know it. The fans of Detroit sports know it. But in time it is rewarding when the team begins to resemble a solid group and the wins begin to come in.

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Blake Griffin, Detroit Pistons leader keeps the team focused

Embed from Getty Images Blake Griffin dispelled any rumor during the NBA trade deadline saying he was happy in Detroit. If there was any doubt they can be put to rest. Blake Griffin is the Pistons unquestioned leader.

“Being the 6th or 7th seed is absolutely nothing to be proud of. We tricked off two months of basketball.” That was Blake Griffin on the recent success of the Detroit Pistons.

On one hand it sounds like he is slamming his team. Which is was. On the other hand it sounds like he is trying to keep the Pistons focused. He is. You see by letting the team and media know that the Pistons played two bad months of basketball, they have somehow managed to climb back into the playoff picture.

That is what a good leader looks like. Acknowledging where they have been while keying in on where they want to be and are going. on Jan. 29 with the Pistons 7 games under .500, mired in bad play, Griffin offered this:
“I don’t know how many games back we are. Can’t be more than 2½, three. So that’s a solid 10 games of basketball and some losses from a team that’s right ahead of us.”

Again letting everyone know the sky was not falling and there was still time to salvage the season. Check.

It is almost as if the trade deadline brought a focus that was missing. It also seemed to bring team chemistry that had bee absent all together. “As players, you’ve got to trust the front office,” Griffin said shortly after the team  picked up Thon Maker for Johnson and rookie Svi Mykhailiuk and a future No. 2 pick.

Blake Griffin said “My message to our guys is, like, what have we done? We’ve had a good stretch. A lot of teams have had good stretches.” Griffin has embraced his role as team leader and brought a new found focus to the Detroit Pistons.

Leaders are a dime a dozen. But when it’s authentic, it’s pretty easy to spot. Which is why Griffin stands out.