Go through the gallery above to view Rod Beard’s midseason grades for the 2021-22 Detroit Pistons. Click here if you’re having trouble viewing the gallery.
The Pistons are a little more than halfway through the season, and like last year, it’s been a bit of a struggle. Much of the subpar 11-35 record can be attributed to COVID issues and injuries, which have limited the Pistons to a handful of games with their top starting lineup.
Not playing at full strength has put some reserves and young players into bigger roles, which will pay dividends in the long run, but for now, it’s not showing up in wins. In the midst of the Pistons’ rebuild, it’s important to keep things in context for the long term and not just for one season.
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After some early struggles, the Pistons have improved, going 6-7 through the first part of January, eclipsing their five-win total in the opening months of the season. They’re getting back toward full strength, but injuries and COVID continue to delay that time when they can start building more chemistry and playing with their full roster.
The midseason grades reflect the performance versus expectations for each player. Of course, for a team with an 11-35 record, it would be easy to give everyone a D and move on; instead, it’s a more nuanced look at how each player did in their playing time, with the circumstances considered as well.
rod.beard@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @detnewsRodBeard