Andre Drummond was expected to take a leap forward after an impressive 2015-16 season that saw him lead the league in rebounds and become an offensive force on the glass, but he didn't meet the expectation.
The big man instead regressed and seemed even more conscious of his woes at the line, getting there almost three less times than the previous season — reflecting immediately in his scoring output.
Yet Drummond has been pep-talked by head coach Stan Van Gundy, who urged him to find that dog that made him such a presence on the court two seasons ago.
The 23-year-old has obliged, not only shedding a few pounds, but undergoing a corrective surgery to fix his deviated septum, one that should help him breathe easier, along with all the conditioning work he's put on this offseason.
“I’m not going to play with a filter anymore,” Drummond told Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press.
“I’m going to play the game I need to play to be a great player for my team. I feel like I’m in great shape and I can actually breathe. I don’t get tired as easily and I’m sleeping better. Everything has been a plus since I got that surgery.”
The Pistons have upgraded their perimeter defense with the acquisition of Avery Bradley, and are now making strides by getting young Stanley Johnson to become a factor on that end, along with Drummond protecting the rim.
Detroit is looking back into its roots and making defense its mantra, one which they'll have to carry for the entire season if they hope to make the playoffs for the second time in three years.
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