In the 2015-16 NBA season, Andre Drummond led the Detroit Pistons to a 44-38 record and a playoff appearance while averaging 16.2 points, 14.8 rebounds, 1.4 blocks, and 1.5 steals per game. Although this was the first season in which he put up big numbers, fans and experts should’ve expected Andre Drummond’s breakout as a top center in the 2015-16 season. He spent the first three years of his career in clogged frontcourts, surrounded by poor shooters. Now that the Pistons are constructed to fit his play style, he’s proving that he’s one of the best centers in the league.
First Three Seasons: Overcrowding and Frustration
In his rookie year, Drummond missed 22 games and only started ten games. However, when Drummond saw the court, star big man Greg Monroe overshadowed him. Not only did Monroe get the majority of the touches down low, but also he crowded the paint with Drummond. Monroe only shot 27.7% on shots outside the paint in 2012-13. Usually he either stayed inside, or defenses sagged off of him to stick to Drummond.
The lack of shooters around him also hurt Drummond. The Pistons ranked 21st in the NBA in three-pointers made and 24th in three-pointers taken. This allowed opponents to focus on the paint because sagging off the perimeter didn’t hurt the defense. Despite these factors, Drummond averaged eight points and eight rebounds in just twenty minutes per game and was named to the All-Rookie second team.
In the 2013 off-season, the Pistons reconstructed their team. They hired Maurice Cheeks as their coach, drafted Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, signed Josh Smith, and brought in Brandon Jennings to replace Brandon Knight. Drummond got his chance to start and produced 13.5 points per game on 62.5% shooting and 13.2 rebounds per game (second in the NBA). Drummond was yet again in a crowded frontcourt with both Monroe and Smith, who didn’t shoot well from outside. Detroit finished 22nd and 26th in three-pointers made and attempted, respectively. This caused an inefficient offense with no shooting to compliment three post players in Smith, Monroe, and Drummond.
Despite a new coach, Stan Van Gundy, the 2014-15 season saw a similar trend, as the Pistons finished 32-50. They had more three point shooting, finishing 9th in three pointers made and 11th in three pointers attempted. Drummond averaged 13.8 points and 13.5 boards a game (second in the NBA). Detroit improved after they waived Smith, but Drummond was still victim to a jammed frontcourt with Monroe.
2015: Andre Drummond’s Breakout
In the 2015 off-season, Greg Monroe signed with the Milwaukee Bucks, which allowed Andre Drummond to be the lone post-player in the Pistons’ offense. Van Gundy constructed the team similar to his Dwight Howard-led teams in Orlando. He brought in Ersan Ilyasova, a career 37% three-point shooter, to replace Monroe in the frontcourt. In 52 games with Detroit, Ilyasova shot 36.3% from deep. Ilyasova was later traded to the Orlando Magic, along with Brandon Jennings, for Tobias Harris, who shot 37.5% from three in 26 games in Detroit.
The Pistons also acquired Marcus Morris in a trade with the Phoenix Suns before the season. Morris is a small forward/stretch four who shot 36% from three in 2015-16. Although these are not eye-popping numbers, frontcourt compliments such as Ilyasova, Morris, or Harris were a big boost for Drummond. Teams can no longer go inside and double team Drummond as often as they used to. Compared to Josh Smith, and Greg Monroe, the difference is huge.
The Pistons’ offense ranked 19th in terms of points per game, but it skyrocketed in three-point shooting. They finished the season tenth in both three-pointers attempted and made. As a result of the reconstruction, Drummond had the highest-scoring season of his career on good efficiency. He was free to operate down low without overcrowding because his teammates stretched the defense on the perimeter.
Although Drummond still isn’t a great post-up player, he finished 61.3% of his attempts at the rim. Defenses then had to give him extra attention inside, which opened up his teammates along the three-point line. This caused a pick-your-poison nightmare for opponents. Detroit had an offensive rating of 107.5 — a top-ten rating — with Drummond on the court compared to one of 103.9 — 27th-best rating — with him off the court.
Now that Drummond is the anchor, Detroit’s defense is one of the better ones in the league. They finished 12th in defensive rating, up from 19th in 2014-15, and 25th in 2013-14. Instead of bulky big men, athletic perimeter defenders surrounded Drummond while he controlled the defense from the paint. When Drummond went to the bench, opponents had an offensive rating of 108.4 compared to 104.7 with him on the court.
Teammate Reggie Jackson appreciates Drummond’s defensive prowess. “It makes defense easy,” Jackson said. “When he protects the rim like that, you know you just got to get into the ball” [MLive].
2016 and Beyond: Team and Individual Success
The Pistons are winning now that Van Gundy built them around Drummond. Detroit made the playoffs for the first time since 2009. They put up a good fight against the champions, Cleveland Cavaliers.
In addition to team success, Drummond is enjoying individual success. He was named an All-Star, made the All-NBA third team, and was declared “the Moses Malone of our era” by Chauncey Billups.
The Pistons also inked him to a max contract, which sent a clear message: the 22-year-old Drummond isn’t going anywhere anytime soon and neither are his Pistons.
