When Cade Cunningham went down with his collapsed lung, it immediately created a problem that needed to be addressed on the offensive end.
It didn't just create a problem, but it created an opportunity for a player to step up, and that player happened to be Daniss Jenkins, who didn't just fill the void the team needed him to, but he answered another season-long question that Detroit desperately needed to find a solution for.
According to NBA mind Bill Simmons, Jenkins has proven that he can be the additional offensive playmaker alongside Cade Cunningham that the team has been searching for.
And with Cunningham officially back in the starting lineup, Jenkins' rise has allowed Detroit to potentially reach another level with the postseason on the horizon.
Zach Lowe praises Daniss Jenkins for answering a Pistons concern
On a recent episode of the Bill Simmons Podcast, Zach Lowe addressed the state of the Detroit Pistons entering the playoffs.
Lowe acknowledged plenty of outside concerns about the Pistons roster, but he also highlighted multiple reasons why the Motor City squad could be poised for a deep playoff run.
One of those reasons in specifc, is the fact that Jenkins answers a question that many have grown concerned about.
"I think everyone is focused, rightfully so, on the outside shooting and do they have enough secondary creation," Lowe said. "Jenkins has potentially answered a little bit of the 'Can anyone but Cade [Cunningham] create some offense for us on the dribble?', we'll see how he holds up in the playoffs."
And while Jenkins has put together a rough stretch of games to close the season, the flashes he showed during Cunningham's absence are exactly what could give Detroit an edge in the postseason.
An aggressive Jenkins makes the Pistons better
Since Cunningham has returned, Jenkins hasn't been asked to do much offensively, which is exactly why some have been concerned with his lack of impressive stats down the stretch.
Still, he's proven that when he's asked to be aggressive, he can put together big-time performances, and if Detroit calls upon him to tap into that aggression during the postseason, Detroit will be an extremely difficult team to knock off.
The St. John's product may not post the major scoring nights that he did filling in for Cunningham, but that won't be what head coach J.B. Bickerstaff is asking for him to do.
Detroit simply needs an additional playmaker that can put stress on opposing defenses, and if Jenkins can continue to answer that call, Detroit could be poised for a deep run.
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