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Here's my preview and my predictions for the Pistons this season. Please post any predictions you have for players, overall record, or even general NBA predictions (or just feel free to poke holes in my predictions). It'll be fun to look back at the end of the season and see how close (or far) we were from the truth. Last Season's Record (with some interesting slices): Overall Record: 23-59, 28% - 3rd worst in NBA Since January 1st: 18-31, 37% After All-Star: 10-14, 42% With Cade since January 1st: 15-24, 39% Without Grant Overall: 12-23, 34% Without Grant since Jan 1st: 11-15, 42% 2022-23 Projected Lineup Projected Starters: Cunningham, Ivey, Bey, Bogdanovic, Stewart Primary Reserves: Hayes, Burks, Livers, Bagley, Noel (slowly giving way to Duren) Situational Players: Diallo, McGruder, Joseph, Knox Notable Departures Jerami Grant: Addition by subtraction. The Pistons had a better record without Grant in the lineup and both Cade and Bey had better numbers and percentages without him as well. Jerami was a solid player, but he was playing above his level, taking a lot of inefficient shots, and rarely engaged defensively or on the boards. Kelly Olynyk: Kelly had one of the worst statistical seasons of his recent career, and one that was plagued with injuries/illnesses. Addition by subtraction here as well. Frank Jackson: A gamble that didn't work out. Frank returned to his norm (31% from three) and proved that his previous season's 40% from 3 was not sustainable, even though he still took the third most threes per game (5.3) on the team. Other than his 2000's era long shorts and his mustache, he won't be missed. Notable Additions Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren: As excited as I am to watch them, we don't know what these kids will bring in their rookie years. The only thing I'll say is that the team addressed a huge need in the offseason by getting what could be the 2 most gifted athletes in the entire draft. Alec Burks: Proven shooter who can score in bunches. Scored nearly 12 ppg last season on 40% from three and also added in 5 rebounds and 3 assists to just 1 turnover. Clear and proven upgrade over Frank Jackson. He'll add some much needed spacing to this team and probably play a lot of 4th quarter minutes for Casey. Nerlens Noel: Veteran shot blocker and paint defender (with terrible hands on offense). He'll play early in the season as Duren gets his feet under him, but I expect his minutes to dwindle due to injury, trade, or simply to make room for Duren as the season progresses. Nice depth piece with veteran experience, solid defense, and verticality. Bojan Bogdanovic: An absolute steal of a trade from Weaver. Underrated player who will slot in next to Bey at the other Forward spot and provides exactly what this team needs on offense - more spacing. He's flown under the radar, but Bojan averaged 18 ppg, 4.3 rebounds, and 1.7 assists on 45.5% FG, 38.7% 3PT, and 60 TS%. He was a dependable 30 mpg starter on a high caliber Western Conference playoff team, and he's done it for years. He'll be a clear offensive upgrade over Grant, with much higher efficiency and provide better spacing. The defense is mediocre, but I've read that he plays hard and is a better defender than most think - either way, we weren't getting much from Grant on D last year either. Using History to Project the 2022-23 Record Since Jan 1, 2022 the Pistons were 37% overall, but they were up to 42% in certain slices (for instance, without Grant). That would put them at 30 to 34 wins if all things remained equal. However, I believe this team got better: -The spacing is better with Bojan and Burks, alongside any 3pt shooting improvements from Cade, Bey, and Stew -The athleticism is much improved with Ivey and Duren -I expect that Cade, Bey, and Stew (and maybe Hayes?) will have continued to improve overall -The big-man situation isn't the train wreck it was for most of last year before they got Bagley But, then again: -They're still super young and historically young teams struggle in the NBA -The East is absolutely brutal this year And Finally, My Prediction... 35-47, 11th in the East: I expect the floor to be 30 wins and the ceiling to be 39, so I went with 35 wins and a 11th place finish in the East over Orlando, Indiana, Charlotte, and Washington. This is about 5 wins higher than what I would have predicted if you asked me before the Bojan trade came in. I expect the Knicks to be around the 40 win mark to get them into the 10th seed play-in game. I don't expect the Pistons to get to 40+ wins and a play-in spot unless Ivey comes out looking like rookie Dwayne Wade and Cade comes out looking like second year Luka (but we can hope).

That is what snatching defeat from he jaws of victory looks like.

I don’t like the difference between what’s a PI or holding call on the Lions and what they aren’t calling on Patrick Peterson.

I'm fine with that being a no call if the game was being called that way. There is no way the call on Hughes is pass interference and that isn't.

If we can help prevent the ChiSox from a wild card spot, that’s something.

I think you all aren't foreseeing the paradigm shift in roster building. I think the Tigers will be scouring the waiver wire, trying to accumulate as many players as possible, and hoping a few bust out while waiting on the farm. Players will be acquired if they are a value. The days of "We need a catcher. Let's get Tucker Barnhart, mission accomplished" are likely over.

Eat it, Chicago.

His voice is the least of my critiques of Monroe, behind his general lack of insights, his clubhouse-y rah-rah demeanor, and his inability to build on anything Dan says.

Oh it's OK White Sox, you don't have to thank us for the weekend, it was our pleasure ha ha ha ha ha!

This. Before the season most of people put the Lions at 6-8 wins... not quite good enough to be average. The Vikings are an above average team so you'd expect them to lose. That's not to say I'm happy about it... I think they could have won if they'd just played a little bit better. But I guess I didn't expect them to win.

0-9-1 as a head coach in the road. At least everyone likes him though!!

As my buddy said to me, Campbell would have been better off letting Fox attempt a pooch punt there then attempt that field goal.

in the big picture this was a game they were supposed to lose. on the road against a division opponent who is a decent team. now they need to come back and smoke seattle next week and go get a winnable road game in new england. that will be the test of whether they can be a player in a bad nfc.

You can point to any number of things. For me, I wish the offense hadn’t gotten so conservative late. Depending on the defense is going to be a recipe for disaster all year long. Don’t play the clock, play for the win.

campbell choked on the 4th down call. game on the line and you try a 54 yard field goal with a shaky kicker? he'd been so good all day and then blew it.

Need to get to FG range.

I like how the receiver initiates the contact and throws a tantrum when a penalty isn't called.

Poor play design. Weak side run leaves JW to beat 3 guys.

note to self: start checking out the top college cornerbacks...

I think that was Ben Johnson or Campbell getting a bit too cute and not going for the obvious, higher probability to convert playcall.

See what happens when you no longer have the worst defensive coach in history as your head coach?

Best offense in the NFC and that's with Swift and half our starting O line being hurt.

The thing is that maybe they aren't great, but you know what? If you're not going to be great, be entertaining. These guys are fun to watch and they may frustrate us with the defense, but the coach is playing balls-out and it's fun. Just don't be boring and bad at the same time.

Really? That's Unsportsmanlike? What the fuck. Stripes wearing purple underwear today?

Refs are jealous of the hips. This is a PG league apparently.

I feel like the Lions would have been called for pass interference there.

I've had about enough of C-Mo in the radio booth.

That's a tight PI call there. Hope we get the same call today.

Great playcalling thus far by Ben Johnson.

this coaching staff is killing it today.

Williams needs to show more emotion. He's just too stoic.

No, I spilled beer on the keyboard.

dan fucking campbell!!!!

I never lost faith in today's game lol

Kirk Cousins has been good in his career agains the Lions because most of that time Matt Fucking Patricia was our head coach and he didn't believe in rushing QBs.

Kickers, man. We got so spoiled with Murray, Hanson and Prater.

If they don't win this one, Scott Harris should be fired. What's he done anyway? NOTHING !

When the games are played in the White Sox home park even the photos smell like urine.

if michigan is a fake #4, who should be there? usc? just beat mighty oregon state by 3 points. clemson? gave up 45 to wake forest. have beaten mighty furman and la tech and ga tech so far. kentucky? just beat mighty northern illinois by 7. at home. if michigan did that you'd be calling them frauds. ok state? beat az state, cmu, and arkansas flipping pine bluff. that's on par with michigan's creampuff schedule. there is no "real #4." there is alabama (who should have lost to texas who just lost to texas tech, btw), georgia (who didnt put away kent state this week), and ohio state (who almost lost to a bad notre dame team at home) and then everyone else. just like last year. the difference between last year and this year is that michigan has to play at ohio state and is likely to lose, opening up the playoff to ohio state. you should watch some of these teams sometime. 😉 there isnt a world beater among them and the top 3 are in a league of their own talent-wise.

Based on my understanding of the public information we all have, I agree with a few things in your post. For one, I agree that Baby Doc is a more hands-off owner than Pap Doc was, so he’s unlikely to force something silly like another 8/300 extension for Miggy. I also agree that obtaining impact free agents, as opposed to stopgap free agents, is something we can benefit from right away even if we believe this is not the year to contend. And I agree that even if they don’t make a move this winter, they can cobble together 70-75 wins assuming all the luck levels out on bouncing balls, injuries, and the like. I don’t agree that Miggy’s contract will be bought out and that he’ll be given the gate. Not only will a significant portion of revenue-producing fans object to that, I think a lot of the players, the Latin players in particular, may take a bad message from him being basically banished from the clubhouse. They may not play him, but I do think they’ll find either roster spot or an IL spot for him which will keep him in the dugout during games. So I think we can plan on zero wins from him, as opposed to -1 or -2, in 2023. As for who’s going to stay and who’s going to go … I need to think on that some. I think Brieske, Hill, Cisneros, Hutchinson, and Alexander might all be gone. Norris too, of course. On the bat side I see both Castros, Reyes, and of course, Tucker being shown the door. Maybe there will be more, I don’t know. But my impression of Scott Harris is that he will not be sparing when it comes to making decisions on who to cut and replace.

Most legit poll ever.

Pitching is the one area where Harris can leverage his second core plank as he explained in his presser... This org has shown enough to suggest that guys can come here and improve under the Fetter and the pitching dept. I don't think they are getting multiple new starters, but one would be good - particularly if there's another Carlos Rodon type who can be signed for a shorter length

BB and Burks are the key. They need sharpshooters who can improve the teams scoring efficiency, which has sucked.

September Baez for 2023 please.

Erie takes the first game of the AA Final against Somerset. One win away from a championship https://www.milb.com/gameday/patriots-vs-seawolves/2022/09/24/713768#game_state=final,lock_state=final,game_tab=box,game=713768

Let's have a little fun here. I admit up front I haven't done my homework on the potential disruption due to the hurricane - but is there a trade here (short term)? For reference, the latest crude print. Note the $78.04 low from Friday. Come Monday we are going to go long oil because we think it might jump given the hurricane. The easiest way for the retail trader to do so is using an ETF. In this case - USO. Closed Friday at $65.32 with a low of $64.65. So the plan in this paper trade is to buy some USO come Monday morning on open - depending on the current price of course. We're going to spend $10,000. The success of this trade will depend on the weather at the gulf coast. If it is bad, probably a good trade. If not, you can get smoked. The trend for crude is down (see chart). We are only looking for a few percent. Maybe 4-5 percent over a couple of weeks. I can see people making this trade so I'm curious how it might shake out.

And now Washington will have to be a walled city every 4 years. For 244 years we witness the peaceful transition of power until that son of a bitch came along and now that's over. I hated him in the 80s when he was just a loudmouth from New York. Things are so bad now that if George Zimmerman ran for office in some districts in this country and his only platform was bragging about killing Trayvon Martin - he'd win easily.

A.J. Hinch helped hire Scott Harris, so he isn't going anywhere. You know the phrase, "To whom much is given, much is expected?" The flip side of that is that you can't make chicken salad out of chicken shit. When a manager a given a roster dominated by rookies and AAAA players, demanding him to turn that into a playoff contender is too much. It's a total O.G. move to blame the manager for the failures of an entire organization, but I think most people recognize that any manager can do only so much with a roster of ciphers given to him by an organization that has spent the last seven years spinning its tires in the mud. When the tunnel is completely dark, it's easy to understand how the human beings on the roster would mentally check out. People can blame the manager 100% for failing to turn that around and inspire a .400 team to run through the wall every single night to avoid losing this individual game, but I think most reasonable folks can see how mentally taxing, maybe even impossible, that is to expect over the course of 162 games played for six straight months. Now that we appear to have plugged the gaping hole in leadership at the top of front office, once Hinch is given a solid roster to contend with, if he falls well short of expectations, then he will deserve to be shit-canned. Now is not that time.