The Detroit Pistons are doubling down on youth, development, and a culture that they believe can take them not just back to the playoffs, but into the second round and even further. The team has ridden good vibes and enthusiasm through the offseason, but now they are officially getting their first test as preseason begins tonight against the Memphis Grizzlies.
The Grizzlies didn’t really have a chance to live very long in the offseason optimism phase before reality smacked them right in the face. It was announced earlier Monday that star point guard Ja Morant is going to miss time with a left ankle sprain.
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He is being called week-to-week, so he might heal up by the time the games count for real, but it does mean an offseason without Morant, star big man Jaren Jackson Jr., or beefy center Zach Edey. There will be plenty of reserves on display tonight for Memphis, including former Pistons Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, whom I 100% forgot was traded to Memphis from Orlando this offseason until the moment I started putting this preview together.
We will also see promising forward Vince Williams and one-time apple to Detroit Pistons fans’ offseason eyes in Santi Aldama, who looked like a free agency target for a few seconds this offseason.
The Pistons are almost completely healthy heading into tonight. The No. 1 objective of tonight is to stay that way. The second through sixth objectives are to build on everything that worked last season and put young players in positions to show how their skills have grown.
Game Vitals
When: 8 p.m. ET
Where: FedEx Forum, Memphis, Tennessee
Watch: FanDuel Sports Network Detroit
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Projected LineupsDetroit Pistons (0-0)
Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren
Memphis Grizzlies (0-0)
Ty Jerome, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, Jaylen Wells, Vince Williams, Santi Aldama