The Detroit Pistons have lost 17 straight games, so there isn't much positive to talk about when it comes to wins and losses.
They did get Bojan Bogdanovic back against the Cleveland Cavaliers, a welcome addition who brought immediate results.
Bogdanovic made an immediate difference, with 22 points in 27 minutes off the bench. Even to the untrained eye, it was clear the spacing was better when he was on the floor and that the Cavaliers were paying attention to him on the perimeter, something the Pistons have lacked all season.
So it's good news that he is back.
The bad news is that Bogdanovic scored 22 points, played 27 minutes (more than he was supposed to play) and the Pistons still only scored 101 points and lost the game. Things should continue to improve as he works his way into shape and starts to build chemistry with his young teammates, but realistically, that is pretty much what you are going to get from Bogey, a guy who can score and will compete on defense even though he doesn't move all that well.
At this point, he may be trying out for other teams anyway, but they aren't going to get much more than 20+ points and 25+ minutes from Bogdanovic on most nights, so if you thought he was going to save this team, don't hold your breath. He will help though, as the Pistons' half-court offense was much more watchable with him in it.
The rest of the bench was abysmal against Cleveland, so if Isaiah Livers (is he just bad?) and Marcus Sasser would have hit a few shots, who knows? Bojan has a real effect, there is no doubt, but he's not a miracle worker.
Monty Williams may have found something with his young guard trio
Coach Monty Williams is trying to find any combination of players that works. After playing him just 13 minutes against the Knicks, Jaden Ivey was back into the starting lineup with Cade Cunningham and Killian Hayes.
Can I just say that Killian Hayes has quietly been pretty good of late and in this season in general. Since returning from a shoulder injury and having a couple of bad games Hayes has averaged 10.8 points, 4.5 assists and 3.5 rebounds over his last four games on 56 percent shooting from the field nad 43 percent from long range. Hayes is still a work in progress, but he's been far more consistent this season and really does look the part of a solid backup point guard.
But for now he's in the starting five with Cade Cunnigham and Jaden Ivey, a trio that hasn't played much together, but what we've seen so far is promising. The ball and player movement was noticeably better early on against the Knicks, which allowed Detroit to have a big first quarter before the bench completely crapped the bed in the second.
The sample size is small but the three guards have played 44 minutes together, posting a 113 offensive rating and a 94 defensive rating. Their 19.2 net rating is third best of any trio that has played at least 40 minutes together this season for the Pistons.
The question is whether Monty Williams is going to add Bojan Bogdanovic to this group in the starting five or continue to bring him off the bench, as Isaiah Stewart has been struggling from long range, shooting just 26 percent over the last five games.