Detroit Pistons Look to Win in Reggie Jackson’s Return to OKC

The Detroit Pistons go on the road Friday to play the Oklahoma City Thunder in Reggie Jackson’s first game back against his former team.

The Pistons pulled out a win last November in Oklahoma City in the midst of their atrocious 5-23 start. You don’t have to look beyond the box score to remember that the reigning MVP, Kevin Durant, was out with a Jones fracture that sidelined him for the first 6 weeks of the 2014 season.

The Pistons will not be looking to deny Lance Thomas and Perry Jones III buckets tonight, but arguably the best duo in basketball, Durant and Russell Westbrook.

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Added Intrigue

There will be a layer to this game that will make it even more interesting to watch, as Reggie Jackson makes his first return back to Oklahoma City since the trade deadline swap last February.

It is no secret that Jackson left the Thunder on bad terms, as both sides were ready to move on. Jackson repeatedly spoke of his dissatisfaction with his role within the Thunder lineup, and eventually found himself being benched for far worse players.

Key Questions to Consider

How will Reggie Jackson handle the pressure? There is no doubt the Thunder crowd will let him know of their disapproval of his actions last season. Can you overcome the outside pressure and perform? That’s not even factoring in that he is going against one of the most physically imposing players in the game in the form of Russell Westbrook.

Can the Pistons keep Kevin Durant in check? Defending Durant is an exercise of doing everything you can, and hoping he misses shots. There is no way to completely shut down a 6-foot-11 wing with great handles and a silky smooth jumper, but getting physical with Durant can help to affect him mentally. Can the Pistons apply physical pressure without getting into foul trouble?

Can the Pistons win the battle of the boards? The Pistons are putting up excellent rebounding numbers on both sides of the floor this season thanks to the 17.8 rebounds per game Andre Drummond is pulling down, and lead the league with 47.5 rebounds per game. But the Thunder are one of the best rebounding teams in the NBA as well, just a touch behind the Pistons with a 47.1 per game average. Can the Pistons impose their will and control the boards on the road? If not, it’s going to be a long night.

My Prediction

The Pistons have been one of the most difficult teams to predict this season as they have shown uneven play throughout the year. One aspect that hasn’t changed is that this team plays hard every night, which is different from what fans have seen the last few years. I see the Pistons putting up a fight, hanging tough, and eventually losing to the Thunder on the road. KD and Russ will be too much.

Next: Piston Powered NBA Rookie of the Year Rankings: November

108-99 Oklahoma City Thunder

What’s your prediction Piston fans?