3 takeaways from another tough Pistons’ loss to Denver

Hamidou Diallo is a keeper for the Pistons. Josh Jackson is not

We’ve talked a lot about how Hamidou Diallo and Josh Jackson have some overlapping skills, as both are athletic wings who can’t shoot but do a lot of little things.

But Hamidou has very clearly put himself well ahead of Josh Jackson in the pecking order with his hustle and the fact that he doesn’t let one bad play turn into two as Jackson often does.

Hamidou took some bad fouls last night, had a few bad shots and made a few bad turnovers, but he also had two steals and five rebounds, ran the floor like a maniac and made a few hustle plays.

Josh Jackson took a bad foul early in the game, didn’t stop complaining about it and ended up getting tossed from the bench, costing the Pistons two free throws and a possession in the process.

I wanted Jackson to break out this year as much as anyone, but it hasn’t happened and he still has all of the same flaws he has always had. He has poor shot selection, is a below-average shooter and has a low basketball I.Q. and all of the athleticism in the world can’t make up for that.

Diallo has some of these same flaws but he also makes plays consistently, never stops hustling and generally puts more on the table than he takes off.

The Pistons should be looking for a trade for Jackson, as he is on an expiring deal and I can’t see any reason to bring him back.