Beard: Pistons' roller-coaster ride starts with Jackson

Rod Beard of The Detroit News breaks down Friday's trade rumors involving Reggie Jackson.Auburn Hills — There’s nothing like optimism, except springtime optimism.

Last April, the Pistons were raising eyebrows, even after a first-round playoff sweep to the eventual-champion Cleveland Cavaliers. The Pistons have made the playoffs for the first time in seven years and the look ahead to this season was mostly seen through rose-colored lenses.

Then came Reggie Jackson’s knee tendinitis in the preseason, which snipped some of the optimism. After missing the first 21 games of the regular season, Jackson returned, but things haven’t nearly reached the level of those spring hopes.

Not even close.

The…