The Detroit Pistons have been missing two key players for most of the season, but haven’t missed a beat, as they have the depth to withstand a couple of injuries. They'd love to have Jalen Duren and Isaiah Joe back, but as long as they are winning, Detroit has the luxury of being patient.
Detroit can easily go 12 deep when they are fully healthy, and even now, with rookie Ebuka Okorie sent to the G-League and still missing Jalen Duren and Isaiah Joe, the Pistons still have quality options.
We’ve seen players like Daniss Jenkins, Kevin Huerter and Paul Reed step into bigger roles this year because of injuries, and the Heat are currently looking for that kind of spark from their reserves which include a couple of ex-Pistons in Tim Hardaway Jr. and Simone Fontecchio.
Miami Heat injuries and the second game of a back-to-back
The Heat beat the Cavaliers last night behind a combined 74 points from Giannis Antetokounmpo and Bam Adebayo.
But they were missing two key players in Klay Thompson and Pelle Larsson, who could both be on the injury report again tonight.
That bumped former Piston Tim Hardaway Jr. into the starting five to go along with Myron Gardner, and if they are there again tonight, the Pistons have to take advantage. They should be targeting these two guys and staying away from the Heat frontcourt as much as possible.
We know Giannis and Bam are going to get theirs, but if the Pistons can shut everyone else down, they should be in good shape.
Tonight, would be a great night for coach JB Bickerstaff to lean into his depth as much as possible and try to run the Heat out of the gym, as they are on the second game of a back-to-back and their key starters all played big minutes last night.
The Pistons need to push the pace in transition but also wear the Heat down with relentless off ball movement with Duncan Robinson, Kevin Huerter and Daniss Jenkins making their defenders chase them around.
The Heat didn’t have a ton of depth before their injuries, so if they are shorthanded again tonight, the Pistons should have an advantage.
The Heat can’t be overlooked, but a shorthanded team on the tail end of a back-to-back is a team the Pistons should beat, so we’ll see if coach JB Bickerstaff can use his depth advantage to outmaneuver Erik Spoelstra.
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