The Detroit Pistons' injury luck down the stretch of the season has already put the team in a tough situation as the NBA Playoffs loom.
Although head coach J.B. Bickerstaff and his squad have found a way to weather the storm throughout the absence of MVP candidate Cade Cunningham and tone-setter Isaiah Stewart, the Pistons aren't in a position to deal with any more setbacks, with April officially upon us.
And with starting forward Tobias Harris exiting after just six minutes during the team's recent win against the Minnesota Timberwolves, Detroit has been given a new cause for concern with the postseason quickly approaching.
Tobias Harris injury adds to list of setbacks the Pistons don't need
The Pistons are already without their star guard and a key defensive weapon as the regular season approaches an end.
Now, with Harris being added to the list of injuries Bickerstaff and his staff are dealing with, the Pistons' luck down the stretch continues to seemingly get worse by the minute.
Detroit can't afford to lose Harris for an extended time, not only for what he offers offensively as a key contributor, but the leadership he contrubutes to an already relatively young team.
The veteran has been a reliable presence for Detroit all season, and as the cards continue to stack against the Motor City squad, the potential loss of Harris would be a setback the team can't afford, especially with the team's already loaded injury report.
Obviously, playoff chances for nearly every team are dictated by injury luck, and at the moment, Detroit is on the wrong side of this luck.
And while that may seem like bad news right now, there's a reason for optimism that the team and their fanbase can hold onto over the next couple of weeks.
Pistons have plenty of time to get healthy
With just under two weeks left to play in the regular season, it may not seem like the most time in the world, but in terms of buying time to get healthy, it may be the perfect amount for the Pistons to slowly return to full health.
Cunningham was already given a one-week timetable for being re-evaluated as Detroit's leader continues to chomp at the bit to return for a postseason.
Beyond that, all signs are pointing to an eventual return for a playoff run as the team continues to remain cautious, holding him out despite the forward resuming on-court activities.
Meanwhile, Harris has yet to be given an exact update, but the nature of the injury suggests the team's decision to hold him out was more about preserving him for a postseason run rather than risking any further issues by putting him back into action on Thursday.
Detroit has been playing well, and while the injuries have caused a bit of concern surrounding the team, the Pistons have the opportunity to have key pieces return to the lineup.