Pistons just got the heartbreaking news no one wanted to hear

The Pistons knew it was coming after their recent scuffle against the Hornets and now it’s finally here: suspensions for Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart. The NBA announced that Duren will be suspended for 2 games and Stewart will have to miss the next 7 contests. It’s terrible timing for the Pistons too as they enter a grueling stretch; they play the tough Raptors tonight before the All-Star break.

The Pistons will be spread thin this month

The next 2 games will obviously be the roughest ones for the Pistons. After tonight’s matchup in Toronto, the Pistons will return from All-Star festivities to a Knicks team set on revenge. The Pistons have gotten the best of New York so far this season but it could be a different story without two of their best players.

For these games, the Pistons will have to dig deeper into their rotation. Expect to see Paul Reed, who is usually a benchwarmer, playing major minutes. Reed will have a chance to show his skills in an extended role beyond his usual excellence in limited minutes.

The Pistons will also make full use of their new two-way contract slots to fill in the void of Duren and Stewart. Big men Tolu Smith and Isaac Jones, both on two-way deals, will need to step up for spot minutes. Fortunately, the Pistons have shown the advantages of their depth all season long - but it’ll be challenged to its limits now.

In an ironic twist, Jalen Duren will be suspended for the game directly before and after his first All-Star game. His emergence as a reliable secondary scorer has kept the Pistons afloat this season. In his absence, Cade Cunningham will have his work cut out for him. 

Naturally, the Pistons will also need to put in more collective effort rebounding the ball too. Controlling the glass has been a key to Detroit’s success all season and Duren leads the charge. His 10.4 rebounds per game rank 8th in the NBA. And he’s up to 4th in offensive rebounds per game.

But the Pistons can maintain that advantage even without him if the whole team commits to gang rebounding. With the excellent JB Bickerstaff at the helm, we can expect to see all-out effort across the roster to make up for Duren and Stewart’s absence.

It was a crushing blow for the Pistons to see how long they’ll be without two of their key players. Stewart’s extended suspension in particular could cause problems considering their opponents in his absence. But as always the Pistons remain defiant in the face of challenges and will do their best to continue racking up wins without their Dawg Pound.