Deividas Sirvydis has seen little playing time even though the Detroit Pistons have one of the worst records in the NBA. Yet, in a game at East first-place Philadelphia, he shined in his first significant action.
To the common spectator at the Wells Fargo Center (including this writer), Deividas Sirvydis seemed like another nice player for the Detroit Pistons. He knocked down two three-pointers, but it was not enough as the 76ers rolled to a 118-104 victory.
But the fact he looked like any other player in a Detroit uniform, and in no way overwhelmed by the moment, was an extremely encouraging sign for the 6-foot-8, 190-pound Lithuanian.
Deividas Sirvydis can play in the NBA, and he just showed everyone
While coach Dwane Casey had slowly worked in younger players during the course of the season, Sirvydis had been an exception _ until Saturday night.
Against the 76ers, Sirvydis played 24 minutes (only center Mason Plumlee played more for Detroit, and only by 43 seconds). That was amazing considering Sirvydis had been on the court for 49 minutes total in the entire season up until then.
And this was not one of those games where Detroit just played just kids.
The Pistons started what would be considered their ‘regular’ starting lineup of Jerami Grant-Plumlee-Saddiq Bey-Cory Joseph-Wayne Ellington in Detroit’s final away game of the season..
Up to the 76ers game, Sirvydis had never even gone10 minutes in a game. Who would have thought Sirvydis and Jerami Grant would play the same exact amount of minutes in a game?
Coach Casey was very complimentary about Sirvydis after the game, according to Keith Langlois of NBA.com:
"“It’s good to see him get the opportunity,” Casey said. “Nobody on our team works as hard as Deividas.“…He played over in Europe, played in Israel last year. He’s been around basketball all his life,” Casey added. “He’s one of the better shooters on the team as far as getting his feet set and knocking ’em down. The main thing with him is getting stronger, which he’s done. I’ve told our guys, he’s going to be a player one day. He’s going to be one of those big two/threes who can stretch the floor.”"
Talk to 'em Deividas#DetroitUp pic.twitter.com/SOFFrFbNyK
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) May 8, 2021
Facing one of the top defenses in the league, Sirvydis was able to find the open spaces and knocked down two of his four three-point attempts.
He finished with a career-high eight points and led the team with a +6.
But maybe more important than the statistics of the 76ers game, was the eye test.
Sirvydis simply looked like an NBA player, rather than a 20-year-old rookie getting his first major playing time in the 68th game of a 72-game season.
That is a very good sign.
In a normal season, Sirvydis would have been in Grand Rapids playing with the Drive in the G-League. He reportedly has put a lot of time working on his game in the gym, despite not getting the immediate award of playing time.
Casey said Sirvydis is going to be a player one day. "I don't know when that's going to be." Said he is one of the team's best shooters but needs to continue to get stronger.
— James L. Edwards III (@JLEdwardsIII) May 9, 2021
Casey said after the 76ers game he intends to keep finding playing time for Sirvydis in the Pistons remaining schedule.
What is Sirvydis’ future with the Detroit Pistons?
Detroit traded three second-round draft picks to get Sirvydis after the 2019 NBA Draft, so they have a lot invested in him. He also signed a three-year contract before this season, so Sirvydis is not going anywhere.
With the trade of Svi Mykhaliuk and the future of Wayne Ellington in doubt (his contract expires at the end of the season), the Pistons will be looking for outside shooting next season.
If Sirvydis can continue to show like he belongs in the NBA, and keeps knocking down three-pointers, he could make himself part of Detroit’s future plans.
The immediate plan for Sirvydis, once the 2020-21 season is over, will be to play for the Pistons at the Las Vegas Summer League. Because he needs a lot of playing experience, most likely Sirvydis will start off next year in the G-League.
Sirvydis turns 21 in June. In a season where a lot of young players for Detroit have shown promise, Sirvydis, due to his frame and inexperience, might be the most pleasant surprise.
But Pistons fans will gladly take another reason to be hopeful for the future.