The Detroit Pistons are one of the most surprising teams this season as they are off to a winning start behind Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson's stellar play.
The young center has been averaging crazy numbers so far 18.8 ppg, 19.3 rpg and 1.6 bpg and has yet to miss on a double-double this season. Jackson, meanwhile, has proven that he is worthy of the contract he signed as he is complementing Drummond's game perfectly.
According to Chris Mannix of Sports Illustrated, head coach Stan Van Gundy is replicating the team he was able to build in Orlando with Dwight Howard as the centerpiece. In Detroit's case, Drummond plays Howard's role, while power forward Marcus Morris is fitting in nicely to Rashard Lewis' role as a forward who can stretch the floor.
Some fans might be wondering if Drummond is becoming similar to Dwight Howard, Mannix said that the major difference is that Dwight is the electrifying, flashy-type of big man while Drummond is the fundamental type who is really good at using his body to take up plenty of space in the paint.
Now, Van Gundy plans to surround Drummond with more shooters. One of those, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, is finally living up to his draft status (drafted 8th overall in 2013) as a versatile 3 and D type of player.
"He was good last year," Van Gundy said of Caldwell-Pope, "but so far this year, he's been really, really good."
Moreover, they have a promising rookie in Stanley Johnson who they see as another superior 3 and D player in the near future.
"He'll be a little bit different. He'll be even more physical, but he can become a very good defender, too," he said via NBA.com. "Where he's lacking right now is he doesn't know everything that's coming and he gets lost on some plays - to be expected at 19."
