Pistons season preview: Detroit has star power, but what about chemistry?

The Lob City-era Los Angeles Clippers found their identity in Blake Griffin’s other-worldly athleticism and all-out assaults of the rim. With Chris Paul orchestrating traffic and DeAndre Jordan controlling the paint, the Clippers had the most sustained success in their history.

Injuries and chemistry issues ultimately caused the Clippers to flame out of the playoffs each spring, but the blueprint proved successful nonetheless.

After acquiring Griffin at last season’s trade deadline, the Detroit Pistons vaguely resemble Lob City 2.0 with Griffin reprising his part, Andre Drummond filling the DeAndre Jordan role and Reggie Jackson doing his best Chris Paul impression. Unfortunately, they are more likely to end up being a discount version than a worthy successor.

Griffin peaked during the 2015 playoffs when he averaged 25.5 points, 12.7 rebounds and 6.1 assists. Ever since the Clippers blew a 3-1 lead against the Rockets that spring, injuries have derailed Griffin each season. He’s been limited to 35, 61 and 58 games during the last three seasons.

He’s worked diligently on his jump shot and has become a respectable three-point shooter, connecting on nearly two per game last season at a 34.5 percent clip. That will be a key factor in whether the Pistons can generate enough floor spacing in lineups with Griffin and Drummond. Griffin’s transition from a pick-and-roll player into more of a pick and pop player, however, limits his opportunities to attack the offensive glass and makes him an easier matchup for opposing defenses. In 25 games with the Pistons, Griffin attempted 5.4 three-pointers per game and shot a meager 43.3 percent from the field. That’s not the kind of production you expect from a player who will earn $32 million this season.

With arguably the best rebounder in the league playing alongside Griffin, the Pistons should be an elite team on the glass. Drummond led the league in rebounds for the second time in his career. He deserves immense credit for improving his free-throw shooting from historically bad to a respectable 60 percent last season.

Drummond has the ability to be a better version of what Jordan was for the Clippers. While Drummond is a better offensive player than Jordan, he doesn’t impact the game in the same way on defense. He’s obviously strong on the glass and is above average at getting steals, but he needs to improve as a rim protector and in the pick and roll.

Jackson, the third member of Detroit’s core, has battled injuries just like Griffin during the last two seasons, playing in just 52 and 45 games. After a solid first full season with the Pistons, Jackson has shot just 42.3 percent over his last two injury-plagued seasons. For the Pistons to make a serious run at the playoffs, he will need to have a bounce-back season.

X-factors

With Griffin and Drummond in the front court, surrounding them with capable three-point shooters is a must. Enter 2017 first-round pick Luke Kennard, who nailed 41.5 percent of his three-pointers as a rookie. As new head coach Dwane Casey implements an offense that relies on having more ball handlers, Kennard should get plenty of opportunities to use the playmaking ability he showed during his college years at Duke.

The Pistons didn’t draft well under Stan Van Gundy’s front office so Kennard is one of the few realistic chances Detroit has at internal development this season.

Outlook

The Pistons won 39 games last season and will probably top out in the low to mid 40s if they get healthy seasons from Griffin and Jackson.

Luckily for the Pistons, the Eastern Conference is a mess. Their primary competition for a playoff spot figures to be the LeBron James-less Cavaliers and the Hornets, which just so happen to be two teams with similarly bleak payroll situations. Detroit gets its first look at Cleveland on Oct. 25 and Charlotte on Nov. 11, a pair of games that will be good early-season litmus tests for its postseason hopes.

For the Pistons to elevate beyond the race for the No. 8 seed, Griffin will have to carry them. Health has always been the biggest obstacle in his career and it has caused him to change his playing style, opting for more finesse plays instead of using brute force and athleticism.

Griffin’s standing in the NBA has fallen greatly during the past three seasons. He went from a perennial All-Star to an afterthought. At this point, he’s better known for the $141.8 million remaining on his contract than his on-court abilities. At 29 with a long list of injuries behind him, there is urgency for Griffin to make the most of an imperfect situation in Detroit.