AUBURN HILLS - Henry Ellenson hopes added strength and more familiarity with the NBA will lead to more time on the court for the Detroit Pistons.

Coach Stan Van Gundy said the second-year big man made "great strides" in the off-season and is much stronger.

"I think he will push very hard to get significant minutes," Van Gundy said.

"He's not a lockdown defender, but he's really worked hard to be able to play down in a stance. He's stronger, he's moving his feet. Offensively, he's making shots, he's putting the ball on the floor."

Ellenson split time between the Pistons and the G-League Grand Rapids Drive as a rookie. He played only 146 minutes in 19 games with Detroit, averaging 3.2 points and 2.2 rebounds. More than half of the 6-foot-11 forward's shots were from 3-point range (converted 10-of-35).

"I've been working hard this off-season," Ellenson said. "I feel prepared. I feel things I wanted to get done this summer I accomplished."

It was a priority to add muscle to his frame.

"Being in the weight room was huge for me, just being able to be lower on offense and also defense with my stance, getting stronger has helped me," Ellenson said. "I feel it when I'm on the court.

"I know defensive calls a lot better. Nothing is new to me now. Just being able to make the right calls, be in the right spots. Summer league hit a lot on that, being able to guard quicker guys and I feel ready."

Ellenson averaged 17.4 points and 7.2 rebounds in five Orlando Summer League games.

"Summer League is huge; you don't really get any pick-up like that in the summer," Ellenson said. "It's real game. Being able to get those practices in, being able to learn, and then on the court just showing what you learned from last year. I felt more comfortable with the plays and being able to know what to do on offense, how to attack different mismatches and things like that.

"Being a leader on that team, being able to talk things out just because I was a second-year guy, I was trying to help out Luke (Kennard, this year's top pick) with things, like Stanley (Johnson) did for me the year before, so that made me think about what I'm supposed to be doing and comprehend all that. I felt I learned a lot from that."

Ellenson started two of the final four games after the Pistons were eliminated from playoff contention. With 15 points and 11 rebounds at Houston on April 7, he became the first Piston to record a double-double in his first start since Theo Ratliff in 1996.

"No. 1, his technique holds up, he's able to do things because he's stronger," Van Gundy said. "No. 2, he can hold his ground around the basket and he can take hits a little better on his drives. Definitely, it's noticeable functionally in his play."

Ellenson said he knows what to expect entering his second season. He knows the core of young player, himself, Johnson and Kennard, must provide energy.

"I'm real excited about our team," Ellenson said. "Just being able to hang out with these guys the last couple weeks in team workouts, I like the energy we're bringing, I like the mindset guys have.

"Going downtown is going to be a lot of fun, there's a lot of hype about it. We're the ones who got to bring the energy now."