Jaden Ivey has been at the center of a lot of controversy for the Detroit Pistons so far this season.
It began with him being pulled from the starting lineup and seeing his minutes reduced after Monty Williams made it clear that defense was going to earn playing time over offense.
You can debate the results, as Ivey’s numbers are down, but he was noticeably more engaged on the defensive end and looked to be on his way to getting back in his coach’s good favor.
But Jaden Ivey has been struck down by an illness that has cost him the last three games and some fans are trying to make something out of nothing, claiming this is a ploy to get traded. I hesitate to even mention this it’s so ridiculous, but some were having fun with the many conspiracy theories floating around social media:
I heard from a guy who knows a guy whose cousin went to Little Caesars that Ivey was actually abducted by aliens and had his memory wiped, so doesn't actually know who he or any of the other players are any more. Can you confirm, @JLEdwardsIII @omarisankofa @MikeACurtis2?
— BD Gougeon (@bdgougeon) November 10, 2023
But here’s the truth:
I’ve heard Ivey is dealing with some sort of viral infection, FWIW. I know there’s been a lot of wondering
— Omari Sankofa II (@omarisankofa) November 9, 2023
Another truth is that fans have no right to know the specifics of Ivey’s illness. Yes, it would be nice to get an update on how long they expect him to be out, but his health is his own private information.
That being said, fans are wondering when we are going to see Jaden Ivey play basketball again, which is understandable.
Is Jaden Ivey playing tonight? Pistons vs. 76ers injury updates
Jaden Ivey will miss his 4th game in a row with an illness, so he will not be returning for the first in-season tournament game. He will be joined on the injured list by Alec Burks, Joe Harris, Isaiah Livers, Bojan Bogdanovic and Monte Morris, so the Pistons will be woefully shorthanded again in this one.
The odd one to me is Alec Burks, who is out with a “contusion.” This is a word that seems to mean just about anything in the NBA. The definition of “contusion” is basically a bruise, so this must be some bruise that is keeping Burks out for so long. Not to sound like the conspiracy theorists, but with Burks now missing his 6th straight game, it’s fair to ask if this is something more serious than a bruise.
Nic Batum is listed as probable for the 76ers tonight, so the Eastern Conference’s best team will have their full complement of players in this battle of first and worst in the conference.
How to watch Pistons vs. 76ers
It will be interesting to see if fans pay any special attention to tonight’s game given that it is the first in-season tournament matchup or if it will be treated as just another regular season game.
You can attempt to watch the game on Bally Sports Detroit, which is about as popular as the virus that is keeping Ivey out. You can listen on 97.1 FM The Ticket or stream the game on NBA League Pass if you reside outside of the Detroit market, otherwise it is blacked out. (Great idea!)
For a free trial on FUBOtv, follow this link.
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