Detroit Pistons: 3 questions before game vs. Dallas Mavericks

The Detroit Pistons are coming off a win vs. the Cavaliers in which they started three rookies and got big contributions from all of them.

Saddiq Bey got into the record books again, hitting six 3-pointers to set the NBA rookie record for most games with at least six made three’s.

Isaiah Stewart had his 3rd monster game in a row and point guard Killian Hayes continues to flash tantalizing talent that should have Pistons’ fans excited.

The Pistons sat seven players against the Cavs in an obvious nod to the tank, but most of them will be back in the rotation tonight, which raises some interesting questions for the Pistons.

Here are three questions I have before the Detroit Pistons take on the Dallas Mavericks tonight in Texas.

Detroit Pistons: Will Saben Lee be in the starting lineup?

Killian Hayes is likely to sit in this one and Dennis Smith Jr. is still out with injury, which means the Detroit Pistons are down to rookie Saben Lee and veteran Cory Joseph at point guard.

Casey will probably go with Joseph and bring Lee off the bench, but I would love to see the rookie get another start or two before the season is over.

Not only is Cory Joseph not likely to even be on the team next season, but Lee has done enough to warrant a long look for a future roster spot.

Lee has played his best out of the starting lineup and I’d like to get a better idea of how he performs with guys like Jerami Grant and Saddiq Bey.

Lee is definitely in the running for a backup point guard spot next season, so even if he doesn’t start, I hope he can get more than 15 minutes tonight against Dallas.

Detroit Pistons: Is Frank Jackson for real?

Frank Jackson has been playing the best basketball of his short career in the second half of the season, evolving into a reliable scorer off the Pistons’ bench.

I even went as far as to compare him to Jason Terry, which is a bit much to be sure but they do share some similar qualities as players.

Jackson has scored at least 17 points off the bench in five of the last six games, is shooting over 40 percent from long range and has held his own defending both guard positions.

Over the last 20 games, Jackson has scored 11.4 points per game off the Pistons’ bench and Casey has been using him to close out games, as he did brilliantly against the Cavaliers.

Jackson has been a streaky scorer in his career and put together a couple of runs of big games when he was on the New Orleans Pelicans, so it is too soon to know if this is going to be him from now on or if he is just in the middle of an extended hot streak.

I am looking forward to this home stretch of games for Jackson, as I have always liked him as a player and hope he can continue to be a lightning in a bottle scorer for the Detroit Pistons.

Can Jackson keep this up for an entire season? If so, the Pistons might have found a backup guard.

Detroit Pistons: Has Isaiah Stewart earned a start?

First off, Isaiah “Beef Stew” Stewart is man after my own heart, as I absolutely love food and cooking almost as much as the Detroit Pistons.

Stewart was featured on America’s Test Kitchen with Elle Simone Scott and Bad Boy Rick Mahorn cooking up some, you guessed it, Beef Stew.

The nickname appears to have stuck (Congrats, Pistons Twitter!!) and Stewart actually seems to know his way around the kitchen, at least better than Rick Mahorn who coaches better than he listens.

But back to basketball.

Stewart has put up three monster games in a row, two of them out of the starting lineup, so it will be interesting to see if he holds his spot or if Mason Plumlee reclaims his starter’s role when he returns to the lineup.

Dwane Casey made Saddiq Bey earn his starting role and once he did, he did not give it back, and the same should apply to Beef Stew, who has been one of the best rookies in the NBA over the last couple of weeks and looks like a lock for the All-Rookie team.

The Detroit Pistons have just a few games left to get their young guys some meaningful run and start to build chemistry for next season, let’s hope the young guys can keep their momentum going against Dallas.