He talked about it during training camp and, quite frankly, most Pistons fans agree. Johnson enters a crucial fourth year needing to take the next step. When Detroit opens the season against the Nets on Wednesday, Johnson will again be in the starting lineup.
Will this be the year he puts it together?
Better yet, can he put it together?
Understanding Johnson’s road to this make-or-break season is, in many ways, like the Kübler-Ross model — more commonly known as the five stages of grief. This is how it goes with every young player that shows glimpses of big-time talent but never unlocks their full potential.