Detroit Pistons injuries: Please avoid the no defense starting five

Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) dribbles defended by Detroit Pistons forward Saddiq Bey Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Brooklyn Nets forward Kevin Durant (7) dribbles defended by Detroit Pistons forward Saddiq Bey Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Pistons will definitely be shorthanded tonight against the Brooklyn Nets, but the question is just how limited they will be.

We know Cade Cunningham is out, as is Marvin Bagley III (shocker). Cory Joseph will also be out with low back soreness, which I can certainly relate to, and losing CoJo for the night will have about as much effect on the game as my lower back soreness.

Isaiah Stewart and Isaiah Livers are both questionable for tonight, and if they both have to sit, the Detroit Pistons are going to be left with some tough choices for the starting lineup.

The obvious choice is just to throw Saddiq Bey back in there, but I’d love to see Dwane Casey try something new and avoid the “no defense” starting lineup.

Detroit Pistons injuries and starting lineup vs. Brooklyn Nets

The Nets will be missing Kevin Durant, so the Detroit Pistons could have a fighting chance in this one. Even if they don’t win, the Pistons need a good outing, as they were embarrassed at home by Milwaukee and put up their worst defensive effort of the season, which is saying a lot.

It’s become painfully clear that putting Bojan Bogdanovic and Saddiq Bey on the floor at the same time is a recipe for disaster, as they are two of the worst defensive forwards in the NBA this season.

Jaden Ivey has the third-highest defensive rating among guards, so with the three of them in the starting five, this could be another game when the Detroit Pistons get down by double digits early and have to try and claw their way back.

The Pistons have had few defensive standouts this season, as rookie Jalen Duren has the lowest defensive rating on the team, followed by Hamidou Diallo, which is why I’d like to see them both in the starting lineup.

Coach Casey talked about the team’s failure to “set a tone” after the last defeat, so I’d like to see him reward Diallo, one of the few players who at least hustles all of the time and puts in maximum effort on the defensive end.

Instead of using Diallo as a spark plug off the bench, why not see if his energy and defense can stop the Pistons from falling behind early? A starting five with him at small forward would at least give the Pistons a chance to slow down Brooklyn’s offense, which has scored 123 points per game over their last three even without Durant.

It probably won’t matter anyway, but it would be nice to see coach Casey reward the guys who are putting in the work on the defensive end and at least try something new.