The Detroit Pistons will take on the Toronto Raptors tonight in their final preseason game before things get real next week.
The Pistons looked great in their last matchup with Jalen Duren back in the lineup, and hope to build on that momentum, though I am sure the regulars will see limited action.
The Raptors are a team that could give the Pistons problems, as they feature three big wing players who create mismatches Detroit will have to figure out.
We’ve talked about the Pistons being undersized in some areas, so tonight will be an early test of how they will handle teams that have multiple big wings.
Duncan Robinson and John Collins will be tested.
The Raptors start Immanuel Quickley and Jakob Poeltl to go along with RJ Barrett, Kawhi Leonard and Scottie Barnes.
I’m sure Ausar Thompson will be on Kawhi, but after that, there are some question marks. Will the Pistons try to hide Duncan Robinson on Immanuel Quickley and put the better defender (Cade Cunningham) on RJ Barrett?
Robinson will be a target either way, which is something the Pistons will have to deal with all season. It won’t matter much tonight, as Robinson probably won’t play much, but this is an issue that will carry into the season.
Robinson can help himself by making whoever is defending him run all over the court and fight off screens on the other end, but he’s going to have a target on him, and it will be interesting to see how the Pistons deal with it early in the season.
The Pistons could also turn to Ron Holland if Robinson is getting torched, which would be a look at the Pistons' most challenging duo if he shares the floor with Ausar Thompson.
John Collins will likely start the game on Scottie Barnes, which will be another early test to see how Collins holds up defensively against an athletic and mobile power forward.
There will be times when Collins is giving up size at the position, but this matchup will be a test of how he can stay in front of quicker fours who move like wings. Can Collins keep Barnes out of the paint?
Tobias Harris was not an elite defender, but he’s a smart team defender with strength who was very good at keeping guys from getting to their spots. Collins needs to show he can hold his own and not be a defensive negative for the Pistons.
The Pistons have mismatches of their own
The Raptors are also a good example of how the Pistons will have a built-in advantage against nearly every team, which is Cade Cunningham.
Like the Pistons with Robinson, the Raptors will have to find ways to hide Immanuel Quickley, which likely won’t be on Cade, which leaves a mismatch somewhere else.
If teams like this try to hide their point guard on Ausar Thompson, he has to take advantage by getting into the lane for his own shot or to collapse the defense.
Jalen Duren should dominate this matchup, and the Raptors are going to have a hard time keeping him off the rim on both ends, so the Pistons have advantages of their own.
JB Bickerstaff will have his hands full trying to mitigate Toronto's advantages while exploiting his own.
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