Detroit Pistons: Starting lineup will unleash the youth movement vs. Mavs

I’m not saying the Detroit Pistons are tanking against the Dallas Mavericks but they are not “not” tanking either.

The Pistons will sit at least five of their veteran players tonight against the Mavericks, which should all but ensure they don’t get an unexpected victory against a better team.

Jerami Grant, Mason Plumlee, Cory Joseph, Wayne Ellington, Dennis Smith Jr. and possibly Rodney McGruder will all sit tonight against Dallas.

However, the way the Pistons’ rookies and young guys have been playing lately, sitting the veterans might actually give them a better chance of winning.

The Pistons’ youth movement has been a success this season, as Saddiq Bey, Isaiah Stewart and Killian Hayes have all shown flashes, Saben Lee has played more than anyone expected and young guys like Frank Jackson and Josh Jackson have stepped up in expanded roles.

Detroit has to be excited that their best player is only 27-years-old and that just about everyone else is 22 or younger.

The future starts tonight, as the Pistons will unleash a full-scale youth movement in the starting lineup that is going to have fans of the “future” salivating.

Detroit Pistons: Starting lineup vs. the Mavericks

The starting lineup has not yet been released but here is what I predict we will see vs. Dallas:

• PG- Killian Hayes
• SG- Josh Jackson
• SF- Saddiq Bey
• PF- Sekou Doumbouya
• C- Isaiah Stewart

I’d say that four of these spots are locks and the only one that is up for grabs is power forward, where we could see Tyler Cook get the start ahead of Doumbouya.

But Doumbouya has shown signs of life lately, especially on the defensive end, so Dwane Casey will hopefully decide to reward him with a starting role and big minutes.

He and Cook will likely both get plenty of run, but Doumbouya is the guy they really need to get going so he can carry some positive vibes into the offseason after not progressing as much as the Pistons would have liked this season.

This is going to be an entertaining game that should have some great matchups and plenty of development for the young players.