Detroit Pistons: Predicting the 2019 NBA Playoffs Rotation

Zaza Pachulia, 14.1 Minutes, – 3 – 4 minutes

Zaza Pachulia is like the “ol’ reliable” for the Detroit Pistons. He’s not as nimble an option as Thon Maker is at the center slot, but he is a solid passer and a defensive stalwart if the ball-handler isn’t testing his agility. It’s not flashy, but in a tight spot a proficient screener who contributes 4.3 points to the box score a night is necessary in a seven-game series against teams like the Indiana Pacers or the Philadelphia 76ers, who sit in the top-tier of the eastern conference.

The Detroit Pistons will likely peak at the number six seed so their series-mates probably lie within seeds one through three. Pachulia is an old-school big that thrives in the physical setting the NBA breeds in the playoffs.

Thon Maker, 14.4 Minutes, +3 – 4 minutes

Thon Maker has been a breath of fresh air. He’s a hustler on the court, first and foremost. A bloody mouth after a block on Bobby Portis in his second game as a member of the Detroit Pistons signaled as much. Maker is willing to put his body on the line to make the play and he’s athletic enough to catch a player at the bucket and recover for the following contest.

Then he drains a go-ahead bucket in State Farm Arena to salvage a 32-point performance from Reggie Jackson against the Atlanta Hawks.

The win helped the Detroit Pistons climb the ladder in the east and will undoubtedly ring in Dwane Casey’s mind when it comes time to shell out minutes in the NBA Playoffs.