Cade Cunningham's return to the lineup for the Detroit Pistons was a major development for the team's postseason chances, but his return alone overshadowed the long-awaited return of Isaiah Stewart.
It's been quite a while since J.B. Bickerstaff has had a fully healthy roster at his disposal, and if there's no better time for the team to be inching closer to 100%.
Cunningham has been reinserted to the starting lineup after recovering in record time from a collapsed lung, Tobias Harris avoided a major scare with a recent setback, and now Stewart rejoins a bench unit in Detroit that will play a pivotal role in the team's playoff aspirations moving forward.
And while Cunningham may be the most obvious talking point of the developments around the Detroit squad, Stewart's return to action shouldn't be overlooked, considering he'll be heavily relied on to do the dirty work when the postseason begins.
Isaiah Stewart will be key for the Pistons
Stewart's role in Detroit isn't talked about nearly enough, and if you're not a diehard Pistons fan, it's easy to get lost in what makes the team so good.
Bickerstaff's newly implemented culture has helped the team get back on the map, and the young core led by Cunningham and breakout big man Jalen Duren has become a huge key to success for the Pistons.
Still, every good team needs an enforcer, a player who's willing to get their hands dirty, set the tone , and help their squad win between the margins.
For Detroit, Stewart has played that role so flawlessly, that he's most known for getting into altercations with opposing teams and playing with a physical edge that people often deem him dirty for.
The 24-year-old isn't given enough credit for what he does, and with averages of 10.0 points, 5.0 rebounds, and 1.6 blocks per game on the season, while shooting 54.5% from field goal range and 33.3% from beyond the arc, it's a shame his impact isn't recognized more.
Recognition, though, won't change how capable he is of mixing up a series, and with the postseason looming, Stewart's prepared to prove that.
A fully healthy Detroit team will be a problem
There's been plenty of concern surrounding the Pistons, and while the doubt has been louder than the confidence as of late, Detroit holds their fate in their own hands moving forward.
Fully healthy, the Pistons will be an extremely hard out for any team in a seven-game series, especially with the flashes the supporting staff showcased during the team's recent shorthanded stretch.
Only time will tell how far Detroit can go when the playoffs begin, but with a healthy squad entering the postseason, there's no reason they can't go all the way.