The Detroit Pistons will try to start their season on a high note at home tonight against the Orlando Magic in the opening game of the regular season.
It’s a battle of two rebuilding teams looking to establish themselves as the next bad team to get good, and both teams are eager to show that they are further along in their rebuild.
The Magic are getting some preseason hype after a solid preseason while the Pistons have people wondering if they are the frontrunners in the Victor Wembanyama sweepstakes after getting spanked in all four preseason games.
But that is in the past, so Detroit hopes to flip the switch tonight and get a winning performance in front of an eager home crowd that will be buzzing.
Both teams will be missing some key players, so the game may come down to which team is better able to take advantage and impose their style on the other.
For Detroit to start the season with a win, there are three key matchups they need to win.
Detroit Pistons vs. Orlando Magic: Key matchups for the game
Killian Hayes vs. the Orlando backups
The Magic will be missing both Markelle Fultz and Gary Harris from their second unit backcourt, which should open the door for Killian Hayes to have a big game against RJ Hampton and the rest of the Orlando backups.
Hayes was one of the positives of the preseason for the Detroit Pistons, as he played aggressively on offense and looked comfortable in the mid-range and pulling up for 3-point shots without hesitation.
But the question with Hayes is whether he can do it night after night. He should get a chance with so many guards out and I hope to see an aggressive Hayes fill the stat sheet as he did against OKC in the preseason.
Hayes needs to take at least 10 shots off the bench (hopefully more) and be the initiator on offense for the second unit. He should be able to use his strength to get to the hoop, so if he can knock down a few early, it should open up the offense a little more for lobs to Jalen Duren.
The Pistons should have an advantage in the backcourt with so many Magic injuries, but Hayes has to take advantage and establish himself tonight.