Isaiah Stewart will make his return from suspension tonight in the Pistons’ road game against the Cavaliers, a matchup that could get chippy and provide an early test for Stewart.
Not that Beef Stew needed extra motivation, but the Cavaliers were talking greasy after their recent overtime loss to the Pistons, reportedly saying Detroit wasn’t “in their class” and they didn’t sweat them in the playoffs.
We know these Pistons take that kind of stuff personally, so I expect a spirited effort tonight against the Cavaliers, with an invigorated Isaiah Stewart leading the bench.
But Stewart will be under a microscope in his first game back and has little margin for error.
Isaiah Stewart has to contain his emotions
Fair or not, Isaiah Stewart has gotten a reputation in the NBA as a guy who is willing to go toe to toe with anyone. He’s a tough competitor who has been in his share of scraps, as he puts it on himself to protect his teammates.
Pistons fans (including me), love him for it, but that sentiment is not necessarily shared by anyone else, including the refs, who are going to have a quick whistle for Stewart for the rest of the season.
This is particularly true of any extracurricular activity after the play, as Stewart has a target on his back and will be dealt with differently than a lot of other players. That may not be fair, but it is what it is, so Stewart has to adjust and not get lured into anything silly.
Other teams know this, particularly rivals like the Cavs, so don’t be surprised to see opponents continue to goad Stewart into altercations, but Beef Stew cannot take the bait.
Not only is he too important to this team, but if he misses any more games this season, he won’t be eligible for the All-Defensive team.
I’m sure Stewart will tell you he doesn’t care about that (I don’t believe it), but it would be shame if he were ineligible for an honor he should definitely get after having a great season.
You want Stewart to play with emotion and passion, as it is part of what makes him good, but he has to stay away from the nonsense, as he is going to be under a big microscope right away.
I actually thought Stewart got off somewhat lightly after the Charlotte brawl, as I figured the league would hit him hard for already having a history, but that won’t be the case if it happens again. The Pistons need Stewart on the floor in the playoffs, and he can’t do anything to jeopardize that.