The Detroit Pistons are undefeated!
Ok, so it’s only one preseason game but you have to take victories where you can get them after seeing just 14 in all of last season.
It’s easy to overreact to preseason games, both in terms of performance, as well as minutes and roles, but there were some things to be excited about after the first preseason game.
We saw peak Jaden Ivey, using his speed off and on the ball to get to the rim. We saw Ron Holland II and Isaiah Stewart change the vibe of the game defensively off the bench. Holland was especially impressive given it was his first real NBA action. He wasn’t intimidated and was active on defense, guarding everyone from Damian Lillard to Bobby Portis Jr.
These early revelations, along with the absence of Ausar Thompson, could shake up predictions about the Pistons’ starting five and rotation. Things will change from game to game, and Thompson’s return will shuffle things around, but here are the early frontrunners for Detroit’s rotation.
Detroit Pistons starting lineup and rotation frontrunners
Obviously, some things will change when the games get real. Tobias Harris will be in the starting lineup, which will push one of Tim Hardaway Jr. (yes) and Simone Fontecchio (no) out.
Ausar Thompson’s return will also likely push another player out of the starting five at some point, but as of right now, here are the rotation frontrunners after one preseason game:
-Cade Cunningham/Marcus Sasser
-Jaden Ivey/ Malik Beasley
-Simone Fontecchio/Ron Holland II
-Tobias Harris
-Jalen Duren/Isaiah Stewart/a splash of Paul Reed
The Pistons haven’t answered all of the questions we had about them coming into this game (not even close) but we are starting to get hints. Marcus Sasser looked capable of running the backup point guard spot for short spells, racking up nine assists in just 18 minutes.
Ivey looked the part of a starter (and then some), so it appears Beasley will come off the bench for now. Beasley was impactful in his first game, taking a leadership role on defense and creating space as a shooting threat.
The biggest winner from the first game was Ron Holland II, as Tim Hardaway Jr. was awful and Holland’s defense changed the game off the bench. Right now, the rookie looks a lock to make the rotation even if his offensive game is still raw. That may change when Ausar Thompson returns, but Holland led the team in minutes in the first game and made myriad hustle plays that got the Pistons back in the game in the first half.
We’ll likely see all three big men in the rotation with Duren starting, Stew backing him up and a few minutes of Paul Reed at either spot.
This can and will change as the season progresses, but veteran Tim Hardaway Jr. is trending towards playing his way out of the rotation while rookie Ron Holland II is going the other direction.