Greg Monroe injury: Forward might sit preseason opener with sore hamstring

The new-look -- and suddenly interesting -- Detroit Pistons open their preseason schedule on Tuesday night against the Maccabi Haifa, but they might be without one of their star big men. Greg Monroe was limited at the beginning of the team's practice on Monday and was on the sidelines for the end of it.

Head coach Maurice Cheeks will rely on the great Arnie Kander before making a decision on Monroe's status for the preseason opener [MLIVE}:

"I talked to him after practice and he said he had been feeling a little something during training camp and I didn't know that," Cheeks said. "I'll see how he feels and whether he plays or not. I'll talk to Arnie and Mike and see how it goes."

I don't think he should play at all in this weird meaningless match up if he has any sort of potentially nagging injury, but in Arnie I'll trust.

Very intriguing rookie Luigi Datome may not play either, as he sat out all of practice with his own hamstring injury (and has been dealing with a foot injury). On top of that, Peyton Siva is dealing with a calf injury.

Naturally, Cheeks hasn't committed to a lineup yet, but he did say that Andre Drummond and Josh Smith will start.

After the Haifa, the Pistons host the defending champions Heat on Thursday night.