The Detroit Pistons have been one of the top teams in the NBA all season long. A big reason for the Pistons’ success has been their relative health and a deep bench. Their depth will be tested with three rotation players on the sidelines as they enter a tough stretch to open the New Year.

Pistons Hit With Several Injuries As They Enter Key Stretch. How Will JB Bickerstaff Handle Rotation?

Detroit has the second-best record in the league and sits atop the Eastern Conference with a 25-9 record. The Pistons, who are 6-4 in their last 10, have a 2.5-game lead over the New York Knicks. But they will be without starters Tobias Harris and Jalen Duren, as well as key reserve Caris LeVert, who will be out for Sunday’s game against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Pistons tweeted that Duren, who sprained his ankle during Thursday’s 118-112 loss to Miami, will be reevaluated in one week. Duren finished the game against the Heat with 12 points, on 6 of 12 shooting, and five rebounds in 18 minutes. He did play three minutes in the second half after tweaking his ankle in the first half of the contest.

“(Duren) wanted to give it a go and see how he felt,” Pistons’ coach JB Bickerstaff said. “But (he) just didn’t feel that he could do the things that he needed to do.”

Duren has really taken off offensively this season, averaging a career-high 17.7 points and scoring in double figures 27 times. He has totaled 20 or more points on 11 occassions, topping the 30-point mark thrice.

Duren is also one of the best rebounders in the Association and anchors the league’s second-best defense. The Pistons hold opponents to just under 113 points while limiting them to 44.5% shooting from the field.

A big reason for the Pistons’ success is their ability to protect the paint well. The Pistons swat an NBA-best 6.1 shots and give up the third-fewest points in the paint at 43.9 a game. Opposing teams are converting less than 60% of their shots at the rim.

When Will The Players Return?

Given his timeline, Duren will miss the Pistons’ next three games before the team’s medical staff re-evaluates him. The Pistons are 3-0 in the games this year when Duren has sat out, with a +23 scoring margin (+7.6 points per game).  However, without Duren, the Pistons aren’t as good at rebounding or protecting the rim. Add Harris being out, and the Pistons are razor-thin up front.

Speaking of Harris, who sat out the Heat loss, the 33-year-old is slated to miss at least five games. Harris is slated to have his hip reevaluated by January 17, though he could be out longer.  Harris has been productive this year, but he has already missed 11 games, where the Pistons are 10-1.

On a positive note, LeVert could return soon. LeVert, who has missed the last two games due to right knee inflammation, has struggled this year. But the versatile guard is an essential part of Bickerstaff’s second unit and provides some defense relief.

After traveling to Cleveland, Detroit begins a six-game homestand. The Pistons host the Knicks, Bulls, Clippers, Suns, Pacers, and Celtics during this stretch. Not only is this stretch important for the Pistons’ hope of remaining in control of the conference, but the Knicks are on their heels, and so are the Celtics (3.5 games).

Detroit is 3-3 on the season against its next six opponents, including 3-w against their Central division counterparts. The Pistons, who are 5-3 versus their division overall, are 2-o versus the Pacers, 1-1 versus the Bulls, and 0-1 against the Cavs. They have not faced the New York, Phoenix, or Boston this year.

Detroit is 12-6 at Little Caesars Arena and has the best conference record against Eastern Conference foes (18-6). The Pistons are 8-4 against teams with a .500 or better record, while they are 17-5 versus teams with a losing mark.

How Will The Injuries Bickerstaff Manage His Rotation

Bickerstaff has used nine starting lineups this season, which is one of the fewest in the league. His most used starting lineup — Cade Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson, Duren, and Harris — has started together 20 times and owns a 13-7 record. So, he will have to replace Duren and Harris.

Isaiah Stewart will remain in the starting lineup after starting for Harris against the Heat. Stewart, who has bounced back from a down season a year ago, has been highly efficient as a starter this season. He averages 12.1 points, 6.0 boards, and nearly 2.5 blocks a contest in 26 minutes as a starter. The Pistons are 7-1 in games that Stewart has started, and they are +4.6 when the 24-year-old has been on the court.

Therefore, Bickerstaff has a decision to make for the fifth starter. He does have a few options—his decision projects to come down to Paul Reed and Ronald Holland.

Holland seems the likeliest choice. Holland has started five previous times, though he struggled mightily in those contests. The 20-year-old averages 7.8 points, on 29.2% shooting from the field and 22.2% from deep,  and 4.6 rebounds in 28 minutes. Despite his struggles offensively, he has been very good defensively, posting a +2.3 plus/minus rating with the first unit. Plus, the Pistons are 5-0 in his five starts.

While Reed has seen sparse action, this situation is precisely why the Pistons signed him to a multi-year deal in the summer. Despite seeing limited minutes,  Reed has been fantastic this year. He averages a double-double (19.5 points and 10.5 rebounds) in his two previous starts.  The Pistons have outscored their opponents when Reed was on the court in those two games.

The Rest of The Pistons’ Rotation

Reed is unlikely to start alongside Stewart. That doesn’t mean the two won’t play any minutes together. But if the Pistons start both Reed and Stewart, that would leave Tolu Smith, Issac Jones, and Bobi Klintman as the only other players who have played the five. Smith, on a two-way deal, has seen just 22 minutes of action over two appearances, and Klintman has totaled  53 minutes in five appearances.

Of the three players, Jones figures to get the most run. Jones, who has played well with the G-League’s Motor City Cruise, showed some potential in his 44 games with the Sacramento Kings. He reached double-figures three times last year. Jones has three games of NBA experience, while Klintman has seen action in 14 games.

Overall, Detroit has one of the best benches in the league. The Pistons have used a nine-man rotation for much of the year. With LeVert remaining out for at least tonight, Bickerstaff will have to rely more on Jaden Ivey, Marcus Sasser, Reed, and Javonte Green off the bench.

Jones, Klintman, and Wendell Moore Jr. are also listed for the Cavaliers contest due to their G-League assignments. However, at least one of those three players may be active with the Pistons, who will have only 12 active players.

© Gary A. Vasquez, Imagn Images