We're just two days away before the Detroit Pistons officially kick off their 2019-20 campaign. On Wednesday, the team will be facing the Indiana Pacers in what should be a great matchup between two second-tier contenders in the Eastern Conference.
This means that we're also just a couple of days away form seeing Pistons superstar Blake Griffin start his second full season with Detroit. Not many may have notice, but the 6-foot-10 power forward actually had quite a season last year with the Pistons. Some might even argue that this was the best we've seen of him throughout his entire career.
Much of the same is expected from Griffin this season, and with the new campaign just about to kick off, we present three last-second predictions for the six-time All-Star for the 2019-20 season.
Career-Scoring Year
Last season, Griffin averaged a career-best 24.5 points on 46.2 percent shooting. On top of this, he also posted career-high numbers in the three-point category, logging 2.5 treys per ballgame (his career average is only 0.6 triples per contest) on a 36.2-percent clip. The former Rookie of the Year winner found his groove in head coach Dwane Casey's system, and as a result, he was able to increase his productivity on the offensive end.
This season, we expect Blake to surpass the 25-point mark for the Pistons. He will remain to be Detroit's primary option on offense, and with no one challenging him for his spot, much of Detroit's offense will be flowing through Griffin.
It is also worth noting that Griffin averaged 5.4 dimes last season, which is significantly higher than his career average of 4.5 assists per contest. This shows how Griffin's playmaking continues to be a significant aspect of his game. Not only is he scoring, but he is also finding ways to get his teammates more involved on the offense.
All-Star Starter
After a three-year hiatus, Blake Griffin returned to the All-Star squad last season. He was definitely one of the best frontcourt players in the entire Eastern Conference last year, and there is no question that he deserved his spot on the All-Star team.
This year, we expect him to do one better and force his way into the starters for the East All-Stars. Giannis Antetokounmpo should once again be the team's captain, with Joel Embiid looking like a shoo-in for a starting gig as well. Griffin will likely go up against the likes of Ben Simmons, Jimmy Butler, and Pascal Siakam for the other starting frontcourt spot, and if he is able to remain healthy (perhaps the most important factor here), then he has a very good chance of achieving this goal.
Playoffs-Bound
With Griffin's solid play throughout last season, the Pistons were able to secure a playoff spot in the East. This year, it's looking like a tougher road ahead for Detroit, but Griffin and company should still be able to somehow make the cut.
Along with teams like the Indiana Pacers, Brooklyn Nets, and the Miami Heat, Griffin's Pistons will be battling it out for the final few spots in the East. Again, Griffin's health will be key here, but if he somehow manages to stay on the floor (note that he played 75 regular season games last year — the most he's played since the 2013-14 season), then Detroit will definitely have a good chance of topping at least one of the aforementioned teams.
Griffin will be 31 this season, and there's no denying that he only has a few more good years ahead of him. Nevertheless, Blake Griffin seems to have hit his prime at this point in his career, and this year should be further testament to the fact that he still has a lot of gas left in his tank at this point.
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