The Detroit Pistons were able to defeat two key conference rivals in back-to-back games even though they were missing three players.
Jalen Duren will likely be out for another week at least, Tobias Harris for another two and Caris LeVert is still day-to-day, but the Pistons haven’t missed a beat without them.
The Pistons certainly need all of these players back, there is no arguing, particularly in the case of Jalen Duren, but their backups have stepped up as they have all season. Javonte Green, Paul Reed, and Daniss Jenkins have all answered the call in big ways, so it is arguable that they deserve more time.
The numbers show the Pistons have been better without Tobias Harris and Caris LeVert in the lineup, so coach JB Bickerstaff is once again going to have some tough calls when his veterans do return from injury.
The Pistons winning without Tobias Harris and Caris LeVert
Tobias Harris plays an important role on this team as the security blanket on the offensive end, but it’s a role they’ve needed less from him this season.
The Pistons are 12-1 in games in which Tobias Harris was out and 15-8 with him in, so it’s not like Harris is killing them, but that record without him is striking, especially when the eye test is enough to prove Paul Reed has been far better defensively.
And Reed isn’t terrible on offense either, as he’s shooting over 61 percent overall and nearly 38 percent from long range. He's active around the rim and is grabbing an outstanding 1.9 offensive rebounds per game even though he’s only playing 11 minutes on average.
Reed is sneaky-good passer, and though he’s not as good a jump shooter as Harris, he’s arguably more dynamic when you factor in his work on the boards.
The Pistons are 4-0 this season in games in which Reed starts. I am not suggesting he be made the full-time starter, but Reed has earned more minutes, and the Pistons are a different team defensively when he’s on the floor.
Detroit is 8-2 in games in which Caris Levert didn’t play and just 19-7 in games in which he did, and he too has been soundly outplayed by Javonte Green and Daniss Jenkins.
LeVert has been banged up all season, so it’s difficult to gauge what he can really do, but he has been unexpectedly bad on defense and hasn’t provided the type of ball handling the Pistons were hoping for.
It’s a long season, and the Pistons will almost certainly have other injuries, so Harris and LeVert will end up playing big roles, but Detroit has been better without them this season, so JB Bickerstaff is going to have to find ways to adjust his rotation accordingly.