The Detroit Pistons will take on the Cleveland Cavaliers in what can only be called “Tankapalooza 2021.”
The two teams have been battling it out for the bottom of the Eastern Conference for most of the season, and though both have a promising young core, neither team is actively trying to win.
They are both coming off losses and the Cavs have won just three of their last ten games, one worse than the Pistons.
There are still plenty of reasons to watch. Saddiq Bey is making a run at NBA history and hopes to have a big night from behind the arc.
Killian Hayes should be back in the starting lineup looking to build on his exciting play since returning from injury.
And the Detroit Pistons will be without seven players due to “injury,” most of them veterans, so we should see a young and exciting lineup vs. the Cavs.
Here are three things to watch as the Pistons try to keep the tank going tonight in Little Caesar’s Arena.
Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: Who will start at power forward?
I wrote about what the Detroit Pistons’ starting lineup might look like against the Cavs and I’d say that four of the five spots are accounted for.
Hayes is likely to start at point guard, Josh Jackson at the two and Saddiq Bey at small forward. With Mason Plumlee out, Isaiah Stewart will definitely start at center.
Both Jerami Grant and Sekou Doumbouya are out for this one, so the question is who is going to start at power forward?
The most logical answer is Tyler Cook, who is really the only one left who plays the position. But the Pistons could also go small, put Frank Jackson as the starting two-guard and move both Josh Jackson and Bey up a position.
I would really love to see some of these small-ball lineups as the season winds down, as they could be weapons for the Detroit Pistons in the future.
Even if Tyler Cook starts, we should see some interesting lineups against the Cavaliers.
Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: Killian Hayes takes on Isaac Okoro
Both the Cavs and Pistons look a lot different than they did the last time they played, as both have made changes that shook up their rosters.
Another difference is that Killian Hayes is back and will get to take on fellow rookie Isaac Okoro in a matchup I am really looking forward to.
Fans of the Detroit Pistons should be excited about Hayes, as he has played well since his return, and he’ll be taking on Okoro, who is one of the best perimeter defenders from the draft.
Hayes has flashed elite passing ability at times, has been more aggressive taking the ball to the rim and has been smothering guards on the defensive end.
His shooting is obviously still a work in progress, but he has been a lot more confident with the ball since returning from injury, which was one of the things we we hoping to see.
Okoro has been solid for the Cavs and looks like a guy who will have a long career as a lockdown defender, so this will be a good challenge for Killian Hayes.
Detroit Pistons: Can Isaiah Stewart continue to dominate?
Few players have Pistons’ fans as excited as Beef Stew lately, as he has put together back-to-back games that have him looking like the best rookie center and a guy who should make the All-Rookie team.
He is trending in the right direction at the right time and has put together his two best games of the season back-to-back and hopes to add a third against the Cavs.
Over his last ten games, Stewart has averaged 10.2 points, 9 rebounds, 1.4 assists and 1.3 blocks per game and now leads all rookies in blocks, rebounds and field goal percentage.
What’s been even more impressive is his willingness and ability to defend just about anyone, a trait that has fans comparing him favorably to Detroit legend Ben Wallace.
I would love to see Stewart put up another big stat line against the Cavs and solidify himself in the top-ten of rookies this season.
Can Beef Stew have another double double with 20 rebounds? I think he can and I look forward to watching it.