A year away from winning 60 games and running away from the top seed in the Eastern Conference, the Pistons have made several changes to their roster.
When moving from Tobias Harris could hurt more than some expect, the team has improved its overall depth, thanks in part to promising rookie preseason play Okorie shares and second year center Three Smiths, Amari Sankofa II writes for the Detroit Free Press. That’s fine, but it will leave the head coach J. Bickerstaff with difficult decisions.
“I think our guys respect each other’s talent in the locker room and understand that they can call anyone up“, said the assistant coach Jarrett Jack. “It’s not because you play badly. It might just be a different look, a different skill set. As for us, we just use it to our advantage, realizing that maybe some of the periods that the other team played won’t be as long, but we play ours long, fast, hard and physical.”
Okori and Smith know it will be difficult for them to get consistent minutes, especially in the first half, and that they must be ready when asked.
“I would say the most important thing is to just immerse yourself in the game” said Okori. “When I’m not in the game, I shut down and make sure I’m focused on the team. I watch film every day with some of the coaches and they really help me. For example, when I’m not in the game, just watching film and what I do with the minutes I get has really helped me be ready and be able to impact the game when I come out.”
We’ve got more from across the Central Division:
- The Bykov Las Vegas over/under has 29.5 wins this season, but the point guard Josh Giddy believes that forecasters are understating their competitiveness and sheer size. However, he knows it’s just talk and confidence until it’s backed up on the court, according to Joe Cawley of the Chicago Sun-Times. “Every team probably says the same thing, that they are ready for a big year, but you never know until the season startsGiddy said.I have a lot of confidence in my guys, but it’s not until you go through adversity, until you go through a losing streak, that’s when you know where you stand as a team. I don’t want to say we’re not going to be a playoff team, but I think we’re good enough to be competitive every night..” Recruit Caleb Wilson added that no one on the team cares about the odds, although they do enjoy the chip on their shoulder that the low number adds.
- Jarrett Allen enters its 10th season, and he knows it’s important for Cavaliers as they look to establish themselves as the top team not only in the regular season, but also in the playoffs in a vastly improved Eastern Conference. He believes one of the keys to the Cavs reaching the Finals this year is experience Ciro Acea, who sat down with Allen for a Q&A with HoopsHype. “I saw the stats that Evan, Donovan, James and I only played a hundred minutes together last year, “ he said. “It’s crazy to think how little time there is in 82 games or the 30 or so games that James has been here. If we get that experience together, make sure everything runs smoothly and fill in all the holes, I think that’s it.”
- Pacers head coach Rick Carlisle has had nothing but praise lately refused James Johnsonaccording to Tony East of Forbes.”He is tone-deaf. He is a great leader in the locker room. He is a great player in training” Carlyle said earlier this week.He works with the players on situations and all different things. And our boys love him. They have great respect for him.” The move didn’t come as a surprise, as both sides knew the team didn’t have the cap space to keep him heading into the season.
