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Should Detroit Pistons alter its rotation when team gets healthy?

By Braden Shackelford

OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 29: Jon Leuer #30 of the Detroit Pistons handles the ball against the Golden State Warriors on October 29, 2017 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA - OCTOBER 29: Jon Leuer #30 of the Detroit Pistons handles the ball against the Golden State Warriors on October 29, 2017 at ORACLE Arena in Oakland, California. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Noah Graham/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Detroit Pistons are in a two-way tie with the Toronto Raptors for second place in the Eastern Conference with a record of 11-5. The Pistons have also been without Jon Leuer the past eight games, where the team has went 6-2. So, should the Pistons incorporate Leuer back into the rotation when he gets healthy or leave the rotation the same?

The Detroit Pistons have gotten off to a surprisingly hot start. The team is 11-5 overall and 7-3 over the last 10 games.

The Pistons have played well, and they’ve been able to do it even with the absence of Jon Leuer who has averaged 17 minutes per game. Without Leuer, the Pistons have gone on to win six of its last eight games.
With the success the team has had without Leuer, it’s time to ask the obvious question: Should the Pistons keep its rotation the same, or incorporate Leuer when he gets back from his ankle injury?

My take?

I think the Pistons should role with what it’s got.

Leuer wasn’t particularly efficient when he was in the rotation anyway, scoring just 41.7% from the field. He also hasn’t been the stretch big that the Pistons envisioned when it signed him two offseasons ago. Last season, he shot just 29.3% from three and this season he is zero for three.

Leuer has played well defensively for the Pistons at times, but I don’t think we can say he’s played better than Anthony Tolliver, who is seems to energize the Pistons every time he steps on the court.
Tolliver may shoot inefficiently from the floor too, managing just 41.8% from the floor, but Tolliver also offers more upside from distance, shooting 34%. He also has a knack for making the hustle players, whether it’s a block, steal, charge, or momentum swinging three-pointer.

While Leuer has played admirably at the five spot, it’s hard to justify him getting minutes over Eric Moreland who has played extremely well defensively backing up Andre Drummond. Like Tolliver, Moreland also seems to make more hustle plays than his opponents.

Leuer is talented and he showed a lot of potential while in Phoenix. However, he’s been a bit of a disappointment in Detroit and I think it would be a mistake to throw him into the rotation with the team playing so well.

That said, if there is an injury to the front court position—and Leuer is healthy—let’s hope he bounces back strong, because Tolliver and Moreland have been playing very meaningful minutes for Detroit.

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It would also be nice as a fan (and for Leuer) to see Leuer play the way he’s shown he is capable of in the past.

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