The Detroit Pistons will take on the Houston Rockets tonight in a battle of two teams at the bottom of their respective conferences.
This will be one of a handful of important games left in the season that will go a long way towards determining the final lottery odds.
The Pistons are at home and are the better team even though they are missing Cade Cunningham, so this is one they should win. They have a chance to build some momentum after a nice bounce-back game against the Nets, but will have to play with the same consistent energy and effort, especially at the beginning of the game.
Dwane Casey went with a new starting lineup in the game against the Nets, partially out of necessity, as Isaiah Stewart and Isaiah Livers are both nursing injuries and were questionable before the game.
They ended up playing fewer minutes off the bench, as Casey went with a 9-man rotation with Alec Burks, Bojan Bogdanovic and Saddiq Bey all in the starting lineup to go with the two rookies.
It was an effective rotation and the Pistons got out to fast starts at the beginning of both halves, and it also gave us a glimpse of the future.
Detroit Pistons: Saddiq Bey as a power forward
Bey has played both forward positions this season, but it becoming clear that he is best suited to play the four, as he is not quick enough to stick with a lot of wings and his ability to shoot and create off the bounce are more of an advantage against power forwards.
Bey also had one of his best rebounding games of the season, grabbing nine boards to lead the team.
He also had 25 points, and with eight of his shots coming from behind the 3-point line, which is the kind of volume the Detroit Pistons need from him.
Bey’s ultimate role may be as a power forward off the bench, but if the Pistons end up trading Bogdanovic, he could be the starter next season along with center Jalen Duren. Either way, Bey is not a small forward and should be playing the four whether he starts or comes off the bench.
Detroit Pistons: Killian Hayes as the backup point guard
I was surprised to see Killian Hayes come off the bench against the Nets, but he had been struggling a bit, so it’s possible Dwane Casey was just trying to take some pressure off.
Hayes responded with 16 points, while rookie Jaden Ivey racked up eight assists as the primary playmaker with the starting five. This won’t be Ivey’s role once Cade Cunningham is back, but this will almost certainly be the future role for Hayes, and it is a good one for him.
Coming off the bench, Hayes can be the primary playmaker, which is what he is good at, and if he is surrounded by two shooters and a lob threat (as he was against the Nets), this is a role in which he will thrive.
Hayes and Ivey haven’t always been a great fit together, and splitting them up gives each the chance to make plays with a better supporting cast.
Hopefully the Pistons’ bench will have more quality players on it next season and have a healthy Marvin Bagley III, so that Hayes will have weapons who can take advantage of his playmaking.
Detroit Pistons: Isaiah Stewart as a hybrid energy guy
Isaiah Stewart came off the bench for the first time this season, but it is something we may see more of in the future. Jalen Duren is the starting center now and for the foreseeable future, and though he and Stewart have had some success as a forecourt duo, it may be better to break them apart and use Stewart in more of a hybrid role.
Stewart has shown he can play the four or the five, but he has limitations at both spots, so using him as a hybrid in different combinations and as an energy guy off the bench may be the way to get the most from his unique talents.
Stewart is going to play big minutes either way, as he can play the four with Duren at times and also be used as a rim-running center with the second unit, as well as in the pick-and-pop with Killian Hayes as his shot continues to improve.
The NBA is largely position-less now anyway, and the Detroit Pistons can take advantage of Stewart’s versatility by using him off the bench as a do-it-all big whose role changes depending on the matchup.
Pigeonholing him into the power forward spot has had mixed results and his ultimate role may be as a high end bench player who can be used in a lot of situations.