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3 takeaways from the Detroit Pistons loss over the Cleveland Cavaliers

By Nicolas Henkel

DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 9: Tristan Thompson #13 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Andre Drummond #0 of the Detroit Pistons fight for position on January 9, 2020 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - JANUARY 9: Tristan Thompson #13 of the Cleveland Cavaliers and Andre Drummond #0 of the Detroit Pistons fight for position on January 9, 2020 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2020 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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Sekou Doumbouya #45 of the Detroit Pistons (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images)
Sekou Doumbouya #45 of the Detroit Pistons (Photo by Brian Sevald/NBAE via Getty Images) /

It’s time to let the kids play

As fans have pointed out all over social media, tonight’s match up against the Cavs was one of the more frustrating that we’ve seen in recent memory. In particular it was the fact that Sekou Doumbouya was frozen out of the rotation during overtime and for a majority of the second half. Doumbouya picked up his fourth foul in the third quarter, and for the most part he was done for the night.

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No, I’m not going to be over the moon infuriated with a coach for not playing a 19 year old who’s only started in four games coming into tonight. It was one instance, but it was still a questionable one. At what point do the Pistons begin to value the development of their younger players over winning meaningless games? Doumbouya has more or less been thrown to the fire in these last few games and the one thing that he hasn’t had experience in is a late game situation.

In their previous game (also against Cleveland) he was subbed out down the stretch for reasons that Casey chalked up to Doumbouya being tired, which is entirely reasonable. However tonight he only played 20 minutes. He’s slowly emerging as one of Detroit’s best on-ball defenders, and he knocked down both three-pointers he attempted tonight. He one hundred percent could have been helpful down the stretch.

Next. 2020 Draft Profile: Iowa State's Tyrese Haliburton. dark

Guys like Jordan Bone and Louis King along with Doumbouya, it’s time to let them play. The Pistons have virtually nothing to lose at this point.

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