The Detroit Pistons have been good, getting off to a 10-3 start to begin the season. However, the last few weeks they haven’t been at full strength as they have missed starting small forward Stanley Johnson and backup forward Jon Leuer. Tonight against the Milwaukee Bucks that will change.
The Detroit Pistons are really good–and they haven’t even been at full strength.
Off to a 10-3 start, the Pistons have played the last two weeks without starter Stanley Johnson, who in my opinion, takes the team to another level, and backup forward Jon Leuer. (Who in my opinion hasn’t made much of a difference one way or the other so far).
But tonight against the Milwaukee Bucks, that figures to change as both are expected to play tonight.
That said, I wonder how effective either player will be, having been away from basketball.
Johnson admitted as much.
"“I haven’t really done anything in 10 days, but it still is basketball,” Johnson said Tuesday. “I feel like it’s more getting my wind and see where I am. It felt good and I’ll see what happens tomorrow whether I’ll be able to play.”Johnson will play, and his presence on defense will be paramount. The Pistons hope his timing and rhythm will return gradually.“We have missed his defense in particular and rebounding — that’s probably been the biggest area,” Van Gundy said. “He also was playing really well offensively, under control.”"
I expect there to be rust, particularly offensively, as Johnson mentioned.
That said, I also expect the Pistons to be much better defensively overall, even with the rust–Johnson makes that much of a difference.
The Pistons hot start has been exciting. As a Johnson fan in general, his play has been very encouraging, and I think we are only beginning to see Johnson’s potential.
Next: The case to get Langston Galloway more minutes
Here’s to quick bounce back for Johnson and Leuer.