The Detroit Pistons play the Los Angeles Clippers tonight, but more fans are thinking about the NBA trade deadline that is less than a week away.
The trade deadline has become its own spectacle, especially for teams like the Pistons, whose fans have little else to look forward to other than sweeping change and more meager hope.
Detroit has played better of late, meaning they aren't losing every game and aren't getting completely eviscerated in the ones they lose, including the last game against the Cavaliers, where the Pistons predictably fell apart in the home stretch.
After having their full squad for just a couple of games, the Pistons are back to filling the injury report.
Detroit Pistons' injuries vs. LA Clippers
Yesterday it was announced that Isaiah Stewart would miss at least 10-14 days after spraining his ankle.
Pistons center Isaiah Stewart is expected to miss at least 10-to-14 days with an ankle sprain, sources tell ESPN.
— Adrian Wojnarowski (@wojespn) February 1, 2024
This is roughly the 800th ankle injury (estimate) the Pistons have suffered over the last few seasons, which makes me wonder if they are playing in low-top Converse All-Stars.
Mike Muscala, who has been a steadying veteran off the bench since being acquired in a trade with Washington, is also out with a concussion and there is no timeline for his return.
Cade Cunningham is listed as probable for tonight's game as he is still dealing with a knee issue that had him sidelined.
So we can expect to see more of Danilo Gallinari, who had his best game as a Piston against the Cavaliers, and we may get the rare James Wiseman sighting with two bigs out, though let's hope it doesn't come to that.
Monty Williams gave us some of what we wanted to see in the last game, as he leaned on his veterans off the bench and kept Killian Hayes on it.
The Pistons did move and shoot the ball well, but early and late turnovers once again reared their ugly head.
The Clippers are the 3rd seed in the Western Conference, so the Detroit Pistons will have their hands full at home trying to stop Kawhi Leonard, James Harden, Paul George (if he plays) and our old friend Mason Plumlee, who has been starting of late for the Clippers.
Plumlee was one of thousand cuts that have killed the Pistons, as Troy Weaver salary dumped the useful veteran and gave away a high second-round pick to do it, one of the many small mistakes that have added up to the worst team in the league.