The Pistons' Caris LeVert has been downgraded to questionable just hours before tip-off against the Rockets. LeVert was dealing with knee soreness prior to the season opener against the Bulls, but played in that game and was originally listed as probable against the Rockets with the same injury. His change in status could indicate another sidelined guard for the Pistons, forcing them to dig deeper into the rotation.
LeVert's absence would leave a ball-handling void
The Pistons are already without Jaden Ivey as he recovers from a knee surgery and will likely miss Marcus Sasser for a second straight game too. Sasser is listed as doubtful with the same hip impingement that kept him out of the season opener. Between those two and LeVert, the Pistons are dealing with injuries to all three of the leading candidates for backup point guard prior to the season.
Against the Bulls, the Pistons' halfcourt offense struggled mightily. The lack of ball-handling outside of Cade Cunningham was principal contributor, and this injury update only makes the problem worse. LeVert was deployed as one of the lead ball-handling options off the bench, and coach JB Bickerstaff will have to get more creative to fill his potential void.
One emergency option could be two-way guard Daniss Jenkins, who played admirably as the Pistons point guard in preseason. Jenkins lacks NBA size and is not as talented as other Pistons, but he can organize an offense and create plays for others. This is the perfect opportunity for Jenkins to show that he can provide occasional minutes for the Pistons in case of injury or an unexpected cold streak.
Having to go deep into the bench rotation won't do any favors for the Pistons offense, and neither will the Rockets defense. They have a huge roster full of tenacious defenders who will make life difficult for all of the Pistons' creators, including Cade Cunningham. Any Piston that handles a lot of playmaking and self-creation load in this game will need to be at their best to avoid turnovers and generate good looks. For an offense that can often struggle taking care of the ball, this is certainly not the ideal scenario.
Hopefully, LeVert's injury is a minor one which will only affect him for minimal time. It's still early in the season, but the Pistons are already battling the injury bug. Last season, their relatively good health (aside from Jaden Ivey) in the second half of the season allowed them to make a run to the playoffs and build momentum. Now, the pileup of injuries in a common position is already making its detrimental effects felt just two games into a new season.