Not Only Is Drummond The Pistons' Future, He's The Here And Now
By Dan Jenkins
@DanTJenkins
On Friday night, as the Pistons faced a game-winning situation against the Indiana Pacers, 21-year-old center Andre Drummond was asked to do what he does best: rebound.
Brandon Jennings drove the lane with four seconds to play while the scored was knotted, 96-96, on a play that looked eerily similar to a game-winning runner he made against the Spurs on Jan 6.
The shot bounced off the front of the rim and onto the hand of Drummond, who had his 6-foot-11, 280 pound frame in the perfect position for the rebound. He tipped the ball up and in for the game-winner with 0.3 seconds remaining, collecting his 10th offensive rebound of the night in the process.
Not only was Drummond's putback the shot that eventually won the game for Detroit, his effort on the defensive end one play before and the play after was just as crucial. Drummond drew an offensive foul on Roy Hibbert with 24 seconds to play, rebounded the game-winner the next play, and tipped away a desperation pass from the Pacers on their last possession.
Many have called Drummond the Pistons' player of the future, their cornerstone/franchise player that president and coach Stan Van Gundy can build around, a once-in-a-generation player. Those weren't things said about him on draft night in 2012.
Many called Drummond gifted, but not motivated; that he lacked a "motor." The following was written in Drummond's ESPN draft profile after he was selected ninth overall:
"He doesn't always play hard. He takes off plays and sometimes entire games. His skill level (highlighted by his awful 29.5 percent free throw shooting) is a major work in progress. He doesn't always work hard off the court to improve his game. And when you talk to him, he sounds more like a 16-year-old trapped in the body of a 28-year-old giant."
NBAdraft.net had this to say preceding the draft:
"Maturity issues, level of commitment and the need for vast offensive development could be a cause for concern from GMs not looking to take a chance in the top 3-5."
Fitting enough, Drummond seems to be finding his motor in the Motor City. He's far from being a perfect player, and a lot of what was said about him prior to the draft has been evident during his tenure with the Pistons -- notably a four-game stretch starting Jan. 9 when the Pistons hosted the Hawks and lost their first game in eight tries.
Drummond, who was said to have been suffering from a cold, posted four points and five rebounds in just 17 minutes. The next three games didn't look much better -- 14 points and 9 rebounds against the Nets, 10 points and 14 rebounds against the Raptors, and two points and two rebounds against the Pelicans.
Drummond looked visibly gassed through that stretch, in which the Pistons played eight games in 12 days. Prior to that, he had himself a scary December, averaging 15.6 points, 14 rebounds and two blocks in 14 games.
A reported "heart-to-heart" conversation between Drummond and Van Gundy on Thursday seemingly rejuvenated the center with an increased sense of urgency, leading to a game-winner and 16 points along with 16 rebounds. Drummond has said that his energy level rubs off on his teammates, making him one of their most important players.
As Drummond goes, the Pistons go: he has averaged 11.6 points and 11.9 rebounds in the Pistons' 25 losses, contrasting 13.5 points and 14.4 rebounds in their 15 wins. His offensive rebounding -- a clear indicator of effort -- is also up in wins: 5.4 in wins and 4.6 in losses.
Some have compared Drummond to Dwight Howard not only because of his talent when it comes to rebounding the ball and his inside presence, but because of how Van Gundy will use him in his "4-out, 1-in" offensive system -- surrounding one big man with elite shooters.
His ceiling is high -- with improved free throw shooting and a go-to offensive move he could be a dominant center in the NBA for years to come.
But that's not as important in 2015. The Pistons are winning while Drummond plays well, sitting just two games outside of the Eastern Conference playoff picture. If he can taste a small amount of success soon, it will do wonders for his future.