The Pistons are finally back on the floor tonight, and the preseason opener against the Suns at 7:00 PM ET in Little Caesar’s Arena comes with one notable catch: Jalen Duren is not expected to play after missing the start of training camp.
That absence stings, because Duren was at the center of most of the offseason noise. But it also hands Detroit a little early runway to test out lineups it may want to lean on once the games start counting for real.
The most straightforward option without Duren would be for JB Bickerstaff to plug Paul Reed in at center and keep the rest of the starting group intact with Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson and John Collins. That’s the safe version, though not necessarily the most fascinating one.
The real draw is what happens if Bickerstaff gets adventurous with Collins at center. That alignment could give Detroit a chance to play faster, stretch the floor and put Cunningham in a five-out setting he hasn’t had much of in his career. It’s easy to picture how dangerous that could get when the Pistons can keep at least two elite 3-point shooters around Cunningham at nearly all times, something Bickerstaff didn’t really have last season.
The upside here is obvious: a few preseason minutes to poke around in those small-ball looks and see what clicks. The downside is just as obvious. It would still be better for Detroit if Duren were healthy enough to get those reps himself.
Even with the roster tweaks, the Pistons’ projected starting five only changes in one spot from last season. Collins is stepping in at the four for Tobias Harris, and that’s a meaningful shift.
Collins and Harris don’t attack the game the same way at all. Collins lives mostly on 3-pointers and dunks, while Harris worked more in the mid-range and post.
That should help open the floor and make the half-court offense easier to navigate, but it’s still a new mix for everyone. Which is why getting Duren back on the court would be the best outcome, even if his absence gives Detroit a useful early peek at what its most intriguing lineup might look like.
In Other News...
Isaiah Stewarts Rough Memphis Start Says A Lot About Detroits Decision
Isaiah Stewarts move from Detroit to Memphis was supposed to be a fresh start, a chance to see how his rugged game would translate in a new setting after the offseason trade. Instead, his first few minutes with the Grizzlies brought a familiar worry back into focus. Stewart has long played with the kind of physical edge that makes him valuable, but also the kind of style that invites questions about how long it can last when the games get heavier and the calendar gets longer.
The early setback in Memphis only sharpens the reason the Pistons were willing to move on. Detroit had concerns about whether Stewarts approach could survive the grind of a deep postseason push, and the new chapter opened with another reminder that durability is part of the evaluation. For a player whose edge has always been tied to his strength and activity, the bigger question now is whether that same identity can stay on the floor when it matters most. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Trade That Felt Empty Suddenly Has Something To Prove
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One of the names worth tracking is Ebuka Okorie, a pick-swap selection who has flashed promise in preseason and given the front office at least a reason to keep watching. Kevin Huerter is also in the mix after getting through offseason surgery and looking ready to help as a versatile bench option, giving the Pistons a healthier, more experienced piece to lean on as they try to squeeze something tangible out of a trade that has not yet paid off in the obvious way. [Read more 🡒]
John Collins Already Brought An Edge Pistons Fans Will Notice
The Pistons got a pretty clear look at John Collins edge early in the preseason opener against Phoenix, when he and Dillon Brooks got tangled up in a physical exchange that set the tone for a chippy night. Brooks was assessed a technical foul and Collins was hit with a flagrant 1, the kind of sequence that immediately catches attention in October even if it wont mean anything once the games start counting for real.
Brooks later disputed the technical, while Collins made it clear he is ready for the kind of physical battles that come with an NBA season. For Detroit, that matters as much as the call itself. The Pistons are still sorting out how much toughness and bite they can consistently bring, and Collins already showed he is not going to shy away from that side of the game. [Read more 🡒]