Detroit Pistons: These 2 matchups will decide the game vs. 76ers

The Detroit Pistons are the last winless team in the NBA, something they will try to change tonight at Philadelphia.

The Pistons have started the season shorthanded, missing rookie Cade Cunningham for all three losses and team leader Jerami Grant in the last one.

Grant is questionable for tonight’s game vs. Philadelphia, which will be another tough road test before the Pistons return home and we hopefully get the return of Cade Cunningham.

Philly has championship aspirations but are also shorthanded, as Ben Simmons is still not playing and Joel Embiid is questionable with a knee.

The Pistons would love to get their first win against an Eastern Conference rival, and to do so they will have to control a couple of matchups.

Detroit Pistons: Matchups to watch vs. Philadelphia 76ers

Tobias Harris vs. Kelly Olynyk

With Jerami Grant possibly missing another game, the duties to guard power forward Tobias Harris will likely fall on Kelly Olynyk.

Harris has been great to start the season, averaging 20 per game, which is pretty much what he’s done for his entire career.

Olynyk is not a great one-on-one defender but he is not terrible, so he needs to stay in front of Harris and make him shoot tough shots with a hand in his face. Harris gets his paycheck from the mid-range, so Olynyk needs to force him into the teeth of the defense, use the help and try to make Harris take high degree of difficulty shots.

Isaiah Stewart vs. Joel Embiid or Andre Drummond

I am pretty sure that Philly sees Detroit as a good chance to get some rest for their superstar, so I wouldn’t be surprised if Embiid sits this one out. If so, Isaiah Stewart will go up against former Piston Andre Drummond, who has been reduced to a backup since leaving Detroit.

As we know, the key with Drummond is keeping him off the offensive boards, as that is really the only way he can hurt you. Stewart should sag off Drummond as much as possible when he has the ball, dare him to shoot from anywhere and try to keep him away from the rim as much as possible.

On the other end, the Pistons can go at Drummond in the pick and roll and force him to switch onto quicker players to negate his rebounding. Of course, if Joel Embiid ends up playing then all of this is moot and Stewart has a far taller task in front of him.

The Detroit Pistons don’t want to fall into an 0-4 hole, so will hopefully bring the energy on the road tonight and get their first win of the season.