How will the Pistons handle this defensive matchup vs. the Magic?

The Detroit Pistons are likely to use several different starting lineups and rotations this season as Dwane Casey tries to figure out how to make all of these pieces work.

We saw this in the preseason, when the Pistons used Bojan Bogdanovic in the starting lineup in the first game, but then switched him out for Marvin Bagley III against the bigger Pelicans.

We may see this throughout the season, as the Pistons are going to have tough matchups against bigger or quicker teams with both Saddiq Bey and Bojan Bogdanovic on the floor together.

The Orlando Magic are a big team, so the Pistons might have gone with MBIII tonight, but his injury ruled that out, so we are going to see Bogdanovic back in the starting lineup to start the season.

The Pistons will also be missing Isaiah Livers, so the big question for this game is who is going to defend Paolo Banchero?

How will the Detroit Pistons handle Paolo Banchero?

Banchero, this year’s number one pick, is still just a teenager, but he isn’t built like one, as he is 6-foot-10, 250 lbs. and is going to represent a big challenge for the Pistons defensively.

They have a lot of options for how to handle the rookie, but each one leaves them with a size mismatch. They could start Isaiah Stewart on Banchero, as Wendell Carter Jr. (the Magic starting center) isn’t a huge offensive threat and Stewart is probably the Pistons’ best defender.

But that leaves either Bogdanovic or Bey trying to guard a center, which isn’t ideal, even if he isn’t good offensively. Carter Jr. is a good rebounder and shot blocker, so Detroit will likely get killed on the boards if they try to defend him with a forward.

That leaves one of Bey or Bogdanovic to defend Banchero, which also isn’t ideal, as he will have both a size and quickness advantage against either one. Bey and Bogs will also have a hard time keeping up with Franz Wagner, so it’s easy to see the problem with having two slew-footed forwards in the starting lineup.

The Pistons are going to be undersized at two positions and it will be a battle to keep the Magic bigs off the boards.

But they can also create an advantage on the other end, as the Orlando bigs are going to have to step out on the perimeter and try to stop the 3-point shooting of Stewart, Bey and Bogdanovic, so hopefully the Pistons can offset their size disadvantage by knocking down shots on the perimeter.

This is going to be an issue all season against teams with big power forwards, especially until Marvin Bagley III returns, so tonight will teach us a lot about how coach Casey plans to handle these mismatches.

We may see more of rookie Jalen Duren (as long as he can stay on the floor) with Stewart to better match up with the Magic bigs.