The Detroit Pistons take on the Miami Heat tonight in a game with plenty of superstar names, but it is the deeper Pistons’ rotation that is under the microscope.
Ron Holland II played just three minutes in the opener, and his replacement Javonte Green went off for 19 points and was a huge factor in the comeback, which already puts Holland's minutes in jeopardy.
Holland is not the only Pistons player feeling the footsteps behind him, but his situation is far more immediate.
Has Ron Holland II already lost his rotation spot?
The answer to this is surely no, as one bad game isn’t going to change how the Pistons view Holland. I am sure he’ll take his regular spot in the rotation tonight and hopefully get better results.
It starts with decision making, as Holland committed two bad fouls almost immediately upon entering the game. His chaotic and energetic style can be a huge boost when things are going well, but other times it gets him into trouble.
Holland not only has Javonte Green eyeballing his minutes, but Taurean Prince is also probable for tonight’s game after missing the opener for personal reasons.
Holland will continue to get his chances, but the clock is ticking, as he has proven performers behind him that JB Bickerstaff can trust.
Daniss Jenkins isn’t feeling the heat...yet
Jenkins wasn’t spectacular in the first game, but he was solid, which is what the Pistons need him to be.
He only scored three points in 15 minutes, and there were times when his dribble drives didn’t lead to much, but he also set up shooters for three assists, grabbed a couple of timely boards and was leading the attack when the Pistons made their big comeback with Cade Cunningham on the bench.
Jenkins isn’t under the immediate rotation pressure that Holland is under with two proven veterans behind him, though we know rookie Ebuka Okorie is revving his engines on the bench waiting for his chance.
I’m sure he’ll get it at some point, especially if Jenkins has a slump or isn’t taking care of the ball as the Pistons need him to. Okorie is a lesser-known player than the ones behind Holland, but we’ve seen his electric dribble drives, and unlike Jenkins, he tries to get all the way to the rim to finish.
But we’ve not seen Okorie do it against top NBA defenses yet, so a few good stretches in mop-up duty in the preseason won’t be enough to put pressure on Jenkins right away.
It’s definitely coming though, as Okorie offers something the Pistons desperately need, which is a guy who can break down a defense and finish.
Holland may not agree, but it’s a great problem to have, as the JB Bickerstaff has multiple options to turn to if Plan A isn’t working.
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