Tough truth Jaden Ivey's biggest fans don't want to hear

Jaden Ivey has made all 10 of his appearances from the bench for the Detroit Pistons this season, and it may stay that way. 

This isn’t a knock against Ivey, who has already shown flashes of how he’ll impact the team on both ends. He’s obviously trying to find his place after missing nearly a year and having to watch his team take off without him. 

Coming into the season, the starting guard spot seemed Ivey’s to lose, as he was playing well before he got hurt, and the Pistons are still trying to find out if he is the long-term answer next to Cade Cunningham. 

But the preseason injury to Ivey forced Duncan Robinson into the starting five, and he may be there to stay, as the Pistons have a serious “if it ain’t broke, don’t fix it” vibe around them right now. 

Things can change quickly, but for now Jaden Ivey is best coming off the bench 

This is more about Robinson than Ivey, as the former has been great this season and is providing an element they sorely lack in the starting five, which is elite 3-point shooting. 

Robinson is shooting over 40 percent on 7.5 attempts per game and is really the only player on Detroit who scares anyone from long range. 

The Pistons have a +10.4 net rating with Duncan Robinson in the starting lineup and an offensive rating of over 121 when he’s on the floor.  

In addition, Robinson is part of the three best defensive lineups the Pistons have, which is surprising, but shows that his defense is not killing the team. 

Robinson is the starter and has earned that spot. 

For now, coming off the bench suits Ivey anyway, as he can continue to ramp up his minutes (just over 14 per game currently) and find a role as the lead scorer of the bench unit when he is on the floor.  

He doesn’t have the immediate pressure and has looked good with the bench group, whose energy is infectious and has spread to Ivey as we can see on this wild defensive stand by the Pistons. 

Ivey was all over the place on that possession, had a nice close out, stayed in front of his man, found him again for the block out (and got fouled) and then chased down the ball. 

He adds another element of quickness and athleticism to the Pistons’ bench on both ends and will be even more of a game changer when he’s playing in longer bursts. 

Jaden Ivey can still play big minutes 

Fans tend to get riled up about who starts, but it doesn’t really matter, as coach JB Bickerstaff has enough depth and talent to play whoever has the hot hand at the moment, and that will be Ivey at times. 

As he continues to get more confidence in his legs, Ivey is going to play more, and we will eventually see him playing close to starter’s minutes even if he does it off the bench. We’ll also see him closing games and in there in clutch situations when the Pistons need a bucket, so a bench role doesn’t mean Ivey won’t have impact, far from it. 

This may not be what some of his biggest supporters want to hear, and we know things can change quickly in the NBA, but right now the Pistons are humming with Duncan Robinson in the starting five, and there is no reason to mess with that.