Terry Foster: Andre Drummond Must Control His Emotions Better
By Terry Foster
@TerryFoster971
Auburn Hills -- The look was bad.
This was Andre Drummond brooding on the bench away from teammates as they celebrated the Pistons first playoff appearance in seven years. This was a special moment for fans, players and the organization. And Drummond sat there looking glum and dumb with no expression on his face.
Drummond said he was caught up in the emotion of the death of a friend. Some people want to believe it. Others do not. However, that is his story and that is good enough for me. I did not like it but this is not the end of the world, folks.
"I am all about a celebration but everybody has emotions and everybody does through certain parts of his life," Drummond said. "And at the end of the game that is when it kind of hit me so I couldn't control the feeling I had."
I've been there. I am fine one moment and the next moment I thought of the death of a loved one. My life turned from normal into a bowl of tears and depression. It often happens in private but if it happens during a great moment does that make me a bad guy?
Drummond apologized to teammates and to fans. He did not mean any disrespect. It does not mean he does not want to be part of this organization moving forward. He is not a robot. He is a young man with emotions.
I will admit that I did not like the look, but it was not a deal breaker for me. Some fans saw photos of Drummond and wanted to ice him from the Pistons' future. They did not want to see the Pistons include him in a max deal. Well, you are stuck with Drummond. The chances of trading him and making the team better are slim and signing a free agent of Drummond's caliber is even dimmer.
It is Drummond or bust. It was a big mistake by a young man who must realize prying eyes are always on him whether he is on the court, to the side of the court or in a bar or restaurant.
"Ages does not matter," Drummond said. "I have been here four years. That is unacceptable no matter what the circumstances are. I did apologize after the game. That was selfish on my part, not celebrating with teammates."
This is an exciting time for the Pistons. None of the starters have played big roles in the playoffs. Reggie Jackson was a backup in Oklahoma City and had some nice moments but he was playing behind Russell Westbrook. Nobody else has been in the playoffs and this will be a special learning experience. The Pistons will play the Cleveland Cavaliers in the opening round without benefit of home court advantage.
It could be a blood bath because the Cavs played in the NBA Finals last year and LeBron James is one of the most dangerous men in basketball. But here is the key for the Pistons. If they can get the Cavs into a sixth game, even if they are coming home down 3-2 it puts doubt in the Cavaliers minds. This is a fragile team that is ready to implode.
If the Pistons give the Cavs an early run watch the fingers start pointing in the Cavs dressing room. That's a dream at this point.
"I believe our intensity level needs to go up," Drummond said. "We need to prove that we belong."
And Drummond needs to prove that he is more mature and can handle whatever hand is dealt his way during the playoffs. There are times Drummond will sit late in games as Aaron Bynes hustles on the court and makes free throws that Drummond cannot make. These are moments Drummond must handle no matter what is happening in his personal life.
"I obviously didn't have a good showing in the (Washington Wizards) game," Drummond said. "Everybody has games like that. The emotions started rushing through me."
Drummond had an interesting answer when asked can he handle future benchings.
"I don't control my minutes," he said. "I don't control with what goes on with that. I just play with whatever I get. Whatever Stan decides to do at the end of games."
But he must control his emotions better no matter how tough things are.
(Foster can be reached at Terry.Foster@cbsradio.com)
