Detroit Pistons lineups: Who should start with Cade Cunningham out?

After waiting months to see Cade Cunningham in real game action, fans of the Detroit Pistons are going to have to be patient.

Cunningham will miss the home opener with a sprained ankle, something the team has been preparing fans for over the last week.

As disappointing as it is, it also makes sense, as the Pistons can’t risk a long-term injury to their future star in the first game of the season.

It is going to be a tough one against the Chicago Bulls, but the Pistons have to take a “next man up” approach and rally around their injured star.

So who is going to be in the Pistons’ starting lineup with Cade Cunningham out? There is really only one choice.

Detroit Pistons: Josh Jackson should be the starter vs. the Bulls

If preseason means anything at all, then there are signs that Josh Jackson is going to have a breakout season.

Jackson looked more comfortable and confident with the ball, made better decisions, cut down his turnovers and shot the ball more consistently in preseason, all things that were weaknesses last season.

Jackson is in a contract year and eager to prove he deserves an extension, as he loves Detroit and wants to succeed in his hometown, and we are all cheering for him.

The Bulls present a formidable challenge for the Pistons, especially in the starting lineup, so the Pistons will need their best defensive unit on the floor to try and slow down Zach LaVine, Lonzo Ball, DeMar DeRozan and Nikola Vucevic, not to mention 2nd-year power forward Patrick Williams.

Jackson has the size and toughness to give LaVine trouble and will likely be the primary defender against the Bulls’ star. Jackson will not only need to keep him in check on offense, but make him work on the other end to stop him from having a big game.

Moving Josh Jackson to the starting lineup will weaken the Pistons bench somewhat, but Hamidou Diallo is going to have to step up in his place, play tough defense and run the floor in the second unit, which should have an advantage vs. the Bulls’ bench.

If the Detroit Pistons can get an opening night win without Cade Cunningham it would be a nice boost of confidence moving forward, so they need to lean on their emotional leader Josh Jackson who should be in the starting lineup tonight.