How will Jerami Grant affect Cade Cunningham and Saddiq Bey?
There has been a noticeable shift in the team since Jerami Grant went out with an injured thumb.
Detroit is playing with more pace, getting more fast break points, moving the ball better and scoring more points in the games without Grant.
Cade Cunningham has taken over as the primary ball handler and scorer and Saddiq Bey has played much better from the power forward position.
The two have cemented themselves as core pieces moving forward and the Pistons don’t want to do anything do disrupt that growth.
Dwane Casey has already made comments about moving Bey back to the three, which I feel is a mistake:
Dwane Casey said Jerami Grant returning will have a ripple effect with Saddiq Bey going back to the three, Hamidou Diallo returning to the bench and Trey Lyles moving back to the four. "Whoever's not getting it done creates competition and leverage at that position."
— Offseason O (@omarisankofa) January 31, 2022
Cunningham and Bey are a big part of the future of the Detroit Pistons, so it should be Jerami Grant who adjusts when he comes back.
That means less isolation, more ball movement and deferring to Cade and Bey as primary options more often.
I fear the Pistons’ offense will revert to what it was at the beginning of the season, with Grant dribbling too much and taking tough shots as the shot clock winds down.
Coach Casey needs to integrate Grant and Olynyk back into the rotation without disrupting some of the positives that Detroit has built in their absence.