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The Detroit Pistons are a robust 0-4 with the games providing variable levels of enjoyment for fans anxious to see the team rebuild, develop its young talent and make the case that its offseason spending spree was a worthy investment in spite of the team’s record.
Those boxes have been checked with most of the concern reserved for second-year forward the lackluster play of its two most high-profile players Derrick Rose and Blake Griffin. Rose has seemed out of sorts since the preseason with occasional flashes of being able to take control of the game with scoring, driving and passing. Griffin, meanwhile, plays on the periphery of the offense. Usually camped out at the 3-point line, Griffin is either preserving his body and providing spacing on a shooting-challenged team or he’s one step closer to washed and can’t impose his will on the offensive end anymore.
There has also been some worry directed at the team’s French Connection — rookie Killian Hayes and second-year forward Sekou Doumbouya. Hayes looks hesitant and his lack of shooting is limiting what he can do in the offense. Doumbouya has been remarkably effective but still can’t seem to win a consistent dose of minutes from Dwane Casey. Luckily, that is balanced out by positive signs from Josh Jackson, Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart, as well as a pleasant dose of offensive and defensive effectiveness from Jerami Grant.
Will they continue to show positive signs and stay mostly competitive for all four quarters against a team as highly skilled as the Boston Celtics? We shall see.
Game Vitals
When: 7 p.m. EST
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Watch: Fox Sports Detroit
Odds: Pistons +8.5
Projected Lineups
Detroit
Delon Wright, Saddiq Bey, Josh Jackson, Jerami Grant, Mason Plumlee
Boston
Marcus Smart, Jaylen Brown, Jayson Tatum, Tristan Thompson, Daniel Theis
Pregame Reading
- Why the Pistons aren’t worried about Killian Hayes — Detroit Free Press
- Pistons’ Killian Hayes endures early growing pains in rookie season — Detroit News
- Jaylen Brown’s career night in Celtics’ win over Grizzlies shows just how far his game has progressed — The Boston Globe