Blake Griffin, who is in year two of a five-year, $171MM deal, is enjoying a resurgence a year after he was traded to the Pistons, Noah Trister of The Associated Press writes. Griffin expanded his offense, adding the 3-pointer to his game, which is something he credits for his success this year.
“It helps a lot, especially in today’s NBA, with everybody spacing the floor a little bit more, and playing with a guy like Dre (Andre Drummond), who’s so effective inside,” Griffin said. “To be able to give him a little bit more space is a good thing. I always see guys working to expand their range, and when you do, you see them add years to their career.”
Griffin has already made a career-high 134 shots from behind the arc this season. Here’s more on the Pistons and a few other teams in the Eastern Conference:
- Pistons coach Dwane Casey believes Griffin’s basketball I.Q. has helped the team stay in the playoff race, Trister relays in the same piece. “He’s thinking the game. He’s a couple steps ahead,” Casey said. “I’ve had a lot of great forwards, power forwards, and he’s right up there with the best, whether it’s [Dirk Nowitzki], [Kevin] Garnett, Detlef Schrempf — just a lot of great players that I’ve been around. He’s right in that category.”
- Myles Turner, who signed a four-year, $72MM extension with the Pacers earlier this season, should be considered a Defensive Player of the Year candidate, Jim Ayello of the Indianapolis Star contends. Turner is leading the league in blocks per game (2.7) and he has the league’s third-best defensive rating (99.6), giving him the credentials to be in the conversation for the award.
- Michael Scotto of The Athletic examines how the Nets got a steal in the secon -round with Rodions Kurucs. Kurucs, who was the No. 40 overall pick in the 2018 NBA draft, has worked his way into Brooklyn’s starting lineup after beginning the season buried on the depth chart.
Everybody thought when Oladipo went down, the Pacers would too. Bogdanovic, Turner, and Collison are keeping them up. I think McMillan should be considered for coach of year again.
The Pistons could be scary if Reggie plays big in the playoffs.
I think they’d actually be a pretty real threat if they were to have gotten Conley, and acquired maybe one or two more depth pieces/shooters..
As for now, like you alluded to, they’re only going as far as Jackson will take them. If he’s able to play at a high level on both ends of the floor, and focus more on being aggressive, while ALSO setting up his teammates, then the Pistons could be a tough out in the 1st round. However, anything short of that, and they’re one and done..
Next season, they need to upgrade at PG, acquire a couple more shooters, and get one more solid 3&D wing. If they can accomplish that, then I think they’ll easily be a top 4-5 team in the East, right there with Indiana, and a lot better equipped to compete with the Bucks, Celtics, 76ers, and especially the Raptors..
Regardless, the tier A free agents, and even the tier B and C free agents, in next year’s free agency, will definitely change the landscape of the East. Losing Butler, Harris, Kawhi, Middleton, possibly Kyrie it’ll all have an impact on the East race next season; more so, a middle-tier team adding depth and capitalizing on other team’s losses could definitely help vault them up the standings…Even without acquiring any big names, I could easily see a couple different scenarios where Detroit definitely improves their standing in the East..Especially, if Toronto loses Kawhi, the 76ers lose Butler, the Bucks lose Middleton, and the Pistons add a better PG and add some shooting and wing depth..
Regardless, the East is going to be fascinating to watch next season, and it’s all going to start with the Draft and Free Agency!!
It’ll be really interesting to see what the Knicks look like next season.
Horrible?
They gunna look exact same but with some new rookies and more cap room , like every offseason nobody wants to play for the Knicks
Don’t c the Knicks getting KD, Kyrie or Kawhi. But would getting Kemba and Jimmy Butler really b that much better then just getting as much young talent as possible and seeing what shakes out?
Brooklyn missed on Musa and hit on Kurucs. Should they be congratulated on passing up Spellman, Brunson, Mitchell Robinson? This draft was sooooo deep. And for them to b one of the few who actually missed on there first round picks. There’s a bunch of contributing second rounders this year.
Spellman & Robinson would not be fits, at least to the extent something like that could be known then, because of possible issues with ‘coachabilty’. The Nets want players they can develop. Zach Lowe’s latest has an interesting bit on that regarding Jaret Allen.
Brunson is a PG, a deep position for them.
To hit 1 of 2 in that range is terrific, and Musa had injury problems. Not a bust yet.