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What will be Detroit Pistons starting lineup: Five options

By Stuart London

SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 04: Dwane Casey head coach of the Detroit Pistons looks on in the first half against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on January 04, 2020 in San Francisco, 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA - JANUARY 04: Dwane Casey head coach of the Detroit Pistons looks on in the first half against the Golden State Warriors at Chase Center on January 04, 2020 in San Francisco, 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 the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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Delon Wright
Aug 25, 2020; Lake Buena Vista, Florida, USA; Dallas Mavericks guard Delon Wright (55) shoots against LA Clippers forward JaMychal Green (4). Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Small ball

In today’s NBA, the dominant center is no longer a necessity to win a championship.

From the start of the league with George Mikan, through Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Kareen Abdul-Jabbar, Hakeem Olajuwon, Bill Laimbeer and Tim Duncan, most team that won titles had really good big men.

But the top teams are trending otherwise. The three-point shot is now valued far more than a seven-footer who only shoots five-feet or closer to the basket.

The ultimate in small ball was the ‘Death Lineup’ of the  Golden State Warriors.

Using 6-foot-6 Draymond Green at center, the Warriors would employ a super-small lineup filled with shooters and quick defensive players.

Opponents could not take advantage of their size. Golden State made five straight appearances in the NBA finals with the help of that lineup.

If the Pistons want to go small, a key figure would be 6-foot-9 Sekou Doumboya.

Related Story. Detroit Pistons: Sekou Doumbouya’s Destined Deliverance. light

The Pistons’ first-round draft pick in 2019, Doumbouya had a up-and-down rookie season. He started some games, and did not do badly, but ended up on the bench by the end of the season.

Doumboya has the athletic ability to be a small-ball center. The problem is, he does not yet have the basketball IQ of a Green. Doumboya is still just 19-years-old.

New forward Jerami Grant is also a perfect candidate for small ball. Long, lean and highly athletic, Grant has the IQ, as he comes from a basketball family.

Although only about 6-9, 210 pounds, Grant guarded the Lakers’ Anthony Davis in the Western Conference finals fairly effectively.

Here is the Pistons lineup if coach Casey wants to start small:

The Death Lineup

SF: Svi Mykhailuk

PF: Jerami Grant

C: Sekou Doumboya

PG: Derrick Rose

SG: Jaylen Hands

Trying to put together a truly ‘small’ lineup is not easy with the current Detroit roster. General manager Troy Weaver obviously likes his players tall.

Hands (6-3) and Rose (6-2) might end up being the only players shorter than 6-foot-5 on the team.

Hands was rated the No. 3 point guard in high school in 2017. He has speed that would combine with Rose for a fast backcourt.

Doumboya and Grant would be great in ‘help’ defense thanks to their quickness. There would not be too much rim protection. Trying to handle a true low-post player like a Joel Embiid or Andre Drummond, could present a problem for the pair.

But, this team would be devastating on the fast break. Opponents would be backpedaling, trying desperately to get back on defense, as five fast Pistons fly up the court on the break.

Mykhailuk, as a small-ball forward, would provide outside shooting. Grant is also a fine three-point shooter. The fast breaks could lead them to some wide open threes.

This lineup would leave two of the top three paid players, Blake Griffin and Mason Plumlee, coming off the bench. With the Warriors’ Death Lineup, they would start big and then move to the small-ball.

If Casey did go with this small lineup, scoring in the half-court offense would be the biggest problem. Off the court, some well-paid vets sitting on the bench, would create a different problem.

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