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Nuggets have their hands full against Andre Drummond, who's sinking free throws and dropping dimes

December 12, 2017

Andre Drummond fixed what many believed was permanently broken. This offseason, Drummond reconnected with his old trainer, Idan Ravin, in an effort to correct his issues at the free throw line. The Detroit Pistons 7-foot big man was coming off a season in which he’d shot 38.6 percent from the line. Together, the two of them worked on revamping Drummond’s approach.

So far, that reconstruction has paid off. Drummond is shooting a career-high 60.7 percent from the free throw line.

“It’s like night and day,” Drummond told ESPN in in November.

Drummond’s improvement as a foul shooter and in other facets of the game is a big reason why the Pistons have gotten off to a solid 14-12 start after finishing 37-45 a season ago. The Nuggets will have their hands full as they try to handle Drummond and the Pistons in a game that tips at 5 p.m. tonight.

Detroit has taken its lumps lately. It’s lost six in a row. But all six of those losses have come against quality opponents, and four of the games have been decided by five points or less. It won’t be an easy matchup for a Nuggets team that’s 4-10 in road games this season.

The Nuggets are again without Paul Millsap (left wrist) and Nikola Jokic (left ankle). Jokic will miss his sixth-straight game as he recovers from an ankle sprain he suffered Nov. 30 against Chicago. That means Denver could be susceptible inside. DeMarcus Cousins went for 40 points and 22 rebounds Wednesday. Mason Plumlee will try to keep Drummond, who’s averaging an NBA-best 15.3 rebounds per game, in check.

Drummond is a beast on the boards, and he’s also a surprisingly capable playmaker. Stan Van Gundy’s offense lets Drummond operate in space, which gives him room to use his athleticism to get to the rim or find the open guy.

The Pistons rely on a steady diet of dribble handoffs to generate offense. Denver will need to stay alert on the defensive end and help when necessary.

The Nuggets have fallen off a cliff defensively since Millsap’s injury. They are allowing 111.8 points per 100 possessions dating back to Nov. 19 — the worst mark in the NBA.

Nuggets coach Michael Malone was incensed after his team gave up 123 points to the Pelicans last week, but he sounded happier with his team’s defensive effort following its most recent two games against Orlando and Indiana.

“I’m very proud of how our guys played tonight,” Malone said after Denver’s overtime loss to the Pacers on Sunday. “I’m very happy with how we competed. We gave ourselves a chance to win on the road.”

[column size=”1/2″]Nuggets Projected Starters

Jamal Murray
Gary Harris
Will Barton
Wilson Chandler
Mason Plumlee[/column]
[column size=”1/2″]Pistons Projected Starters

Reggie Jackson
Avery Bradley
Tobias Harris
Stanley Johnson
Andre Drummond[/column]
[/columns]