Detroit Pistons face Orlando Magic on the road in season finale
It’s been a long season full of ups and plenty of downs, but it all comes to an end for the Detroit Pistons as they take on the Orlando Magic in the final game of the season.
The Detroit Pistons have had a solid finish to the season so far, beating both the Houston Rockets and Memphis Grizzlies in back-to-back games, while falling to the Washington Wizards 105-101 last game.
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These final few games have featured a fresh lineup, with rookie Henry Ellenson getting the start at power forward in two games and Boban Marjanovic getting extended minutes off the bench.
Both Ellenson and Marjanovic have taken full advantage of this opportunity.
Across this stretch, Ellenson has averaged 9 points and 7.7 rebounds in 23.4 minutes per game.
In his first career start against the Rockets he had a career-best 15 points and 11 rebounds.
Unfortunately, Ellenson has shot 5 of 17 from the three-point line in these three games.
Removing his 1 of 8 performance against the Rockets, he’s shot 4 of 9 from behind the arc in his past two games, which is solid.
Ellenson is still incredibly raw and has plenty of time to develop a more consistent shot from deep,
Similarly, Marjanovic has had a stellar past three games.
He’s averaging 16.3 points, 10 rebounds, 62.5 per cent shooting from the field and 81.8 per cent from the free throw line in 23.5 minutes across this three-game stretch.
For most of the season he’s been treated as a novelty, but Marjanovic is proving he belongs in the NBA and can hold his own while playing meaningful minutes against good teams.
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The final game of the season is generally not taken too seriously, and it can often result in lesser-known players making statements and having breakout games.
You only have to look at last season’s final game against the Cleveland Cavaliers, where Jodie Meeks exploded for 20 points off the bench and Jordan McRae dropped 36 points in 47 minutes of game time.
The finale of the 2013-14 season saw Kentavious Caldwell-Pope putting up 30 points as a rookie against Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook‘s Oklahoma City Thunder.
This type of game is perfect for a huge performance from a player like Ellenson or Marjanovic, or even guys like Stanley Johnson and Darrun Hilliard who will be running the backup point guard spot in the wake of Beno Udrih‘s injury.
The Orlando Magic are coming off their worst loss in franchise history, as they were destroyed 75-122 by the Chicago Bulls.
The Magic are also 2-8 in their last 10 games, with 5 of those losses by double-digits.
It appears the Magic are well and truly checked out for this season.
Perhaps the most interesting storyline heading into this game is that Magic GM Rob Hennigan will get a closer look at some of the Pistons’ players he’s apparently been eyeing off.
An entire whiteboard of front office plans was accidentally leaked when newly signed Patricio Garino‘s agent tweeted a photo that clearly showed players the Magic are interested in.
Among these names were Stanley Johnson, Marcus Morris, Jon Leuer and Tobias Harris.
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How serious the interest in these four players is we really don’t know, but either way, Hennigan will get a look at them as the season comes to an end.