The FAA’s grounding of flights across the U.S. has created a messy travel picture for a handful of Michigan teams, but most of the state’s major pro and college clubs appear to be in the clear. The one big question mark, as of 6:30 p.m. Friday, Nov. 13, is in East Lansing.
Michigan State was set to host Washington in a Big Ten football game at 4:15 p.m. Saturday, and the Spartans are already in place.
The Huskies, though, have not yet left Seattle, which puts the game in doubt. The timing makes things even trickier: there isn’t much room to slide the matchup around this weekend or early next week, since MSU is also scheduled to host Oregon on Friday, Nov.
Michigan’s teams, meanwhile, are mostly settled. The Wolverines traveled to Eugene on Thursday and are on track for their football game against Oregon at 3:30 p.m.
Saturday. The only potential issue still ahead for U-M is the men’s basketball team’s home game against William & Mary, which is supposed to tip at 2 p.m.
Sunday. William & Mary is coming from Virginia.
The Detroit Lions are already overseas and should be unaffected. They’re in Munich, Germany, where they’re scheduled to “host” the New England Patriots at 9:30 a.m. ET Sunday at Allianz Arena.
The Pistons also seem to be fine. They already flew to Miami before Saturday night’s game after playing the Washington Wizards in D.C. on Thursday night.
And the Red Wings, who are in the middle of a longer road swing, have already made it to Tampa. They played the Florida Panthers on Thursday in the southeast part of the state and are set to face the Tampa Bay Lightning on Saturday night. After that, they’ll have time to get back to Detroit before their next game, which is scheduled for Nov. 18 against the Boston Bruins at Little Caesars Arena.
In Other News...
Pistons May Have A New Answer At Center While Duren Sits Out
With Jalen Duren sidelined, the Pistons have had to keep tinkering at center, and Paul Reed has quickly reinserted himself into the conversation. After returning to a key bench role, Reed delivered one of his better outings of the season in Detroits double-overtime win over the Washington Wizards, giving the frontcourt a jolt at a position that has been in flux.
Reeds night stood out not just because he was active, but because he outplayed starter John Collins in the moments that mattered. His production and plus/minus both pointed to a player who fit the flow of the game better than the box score might have suggested, leaving Detroit with a useful option while it waits on Durens return and tries to sort out the rotation behind him. [Read more 🡒]
Daniss Jenkins Is Giving The Pistons A New Contract Dilemma
Daniss Jenkins has turned into one of the more interesting developments in Detroits early-season rotation, and not just because he has worked his way into the starting lineup. The Pistons are getting real production from a player on a modest deal, with Jenkins averaging 13.5 points, 4.7 assists and 3.8 rebounds while hitting 44 percent from three-point range, all while carrying the kind of contract that usually leaves teams feeling pretty good about their cap sheet.
What makes it trickier for Detroit is the broader roster picture around him. Jenkins is the 11th highest-paid player on the team at $4 million this season, even making less than rookie Ebuka Okorie, which only sharpens the sense that his value has outgrown his price tag. He is widely viewed as a bargain contract now, but with restricted free agency looming after the season, the Pistons may soon have to decide how hard they want to fight to keep a player who has become a lot more important than his salary suggests. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Are Surviving Jalen Durens Absence In An Unexpected Way
Jalen Durens absence has forced Detroit to rethink the middle of the floor, and the early answer has come from a smaller, more versatile mix of pieces than anyone would have expected. John Collins and Paul Reed have handled the center minutes in Durens place, and while the Pistons have taken a hit on the glass, they have still found ways to keep winning by leaning into a different kind of physicality and control.
Ausar Thompson has been a big part of that adjustment, giving Detroit extra rebounding help while also tightening up the ball security that has become so important in these games. JB Bickerstaff has responded by reshaping the lineup to stress handling and possession management, and the result has been a team that looks less dominant on the boards but more stable overall, even as the long-term answer in the paint remains unresolved. [Read more 🡒]