The Detroit Pistons are 9-2 and in first place in the Eastern Conference, but that is pretty much where the good news ends.
They’ve done this despite an injury report that just keeps getting longer and has reached catastrophic levels.
For tonight’s game against the Bulls, the Pistons will be missing Jaden Ivey, Marcus Sasser, Tobias Harris and Isaiah Stewart, who were all out for the comeback win over Washington.
But two new names have joined the report, as Cade Cunningham has been downgraded to questionable with a hip injury he sustained after a hard foul sent him to the floor in his 45-minute overtime effort against the Wizards.
Jalen Duren is listed as probable, so if you are counting, that is the Pistons’ entire opening night starting lineup and their best bench player all potentially out for a big matchup tonight against the Bulls.
I wouldn’t expect the Pistons’ winning streak to continue, as they may have a glorified G-League squad on the floor tonight, and if these key players have to miss more than a game or two, the Pistons might be forced into a move earlier than expected.
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The Pistons have never been very honest about injuries, which is the most concerning part of this. We’ve already seen it with Marcus Sasser, who was “day-to-day" one day and out for four weeks the next.
Tobias Harris’ ankle injury has also been longer than first expected, Ivey still hasn’t been re-evaluated, and now Cunningham and Duren, the nucleus of the Pistons’ offense, are likely both out.
The Pistons already made a move to add Isaac Jones and also cut Colby Jones so they could re-acquire Wendell Moore Jr. These looked like nothing depth moves at the time, but we may actually see these two in the rotation tonight.
The Pistons have shown they can hang with any team from a talent and effort standpoint, but that won’t matter if they aren’t on the floor. This was one of my preseason worries, as the Pistons had pretty fair injury fortune last season, other than Ivey, and some of that is just about dumb luck that no one can control.
The luck has turned already this season and we’ve seen how injuries have completely changed the landscape of the Eastern Conference with both Indiana and Boston apparently taking sabbaticals with their stars out with injuries.
Now the Pistons will have a target on their backs as a shorthanded team clinging to first place. It’s a good thing they have that 9-2 cushion, as they will need it.
The problem with making any type of trade now is that everyone is hurt, so it’s the worst possible timing. The Pistons may just have to recall some two-way players from the Cruise and see if they can ride this out.
But don’t be shocked if some kind of move comes if they can’t start to get some of these guys off the injury report.