The Detroit Pistons are set to get back superstar power forward Blake Griffin for Monday’s contest against the Minnesota Timberwolves. Griffin missed his team’s first 10 games due to hamstring and knee injuries.
Blake Griffin: “I’m playing tomorrow.”
— James L. Edwards III (@JLEdwardsIII) November 10, 2019
With Griffin back in the mix, veteran forward Markieff Morris will likely slide out of the starting five, allowing Detroit’s premier playmaker to lead the squad.
Injuries have debilitated Detroit early on this season, with point guard Reggie Jackson expected to miss at least one month due to a back ailment, in addition to point guards Derrick Rose and Tim Frazier having missed multiple games due to myriad injuries. Their absences have forced Luke Kennard, Bruce Brown Jr. and Langston Galloway to share point duties, some of which Griffin may absorb in his first contest back.
In his first full season as a Piston last year, Griffin set a new career high with 24.5 points per game. A large part of his scoring increase came from his embrace of the three-point shot, in which he averaged 2.5 makes on a nightly basis. Since his arrival in Detroit, he has also seen his assist numbers climb, dishing out 5.4 per contest last season.
Without Griffin around, center Andre Drummond was off to a historic start to his campaign. The big man still figures to dominate the glass, although he’ll likely defer to Griffin in some capacity. The two men managed to lead the Pistons to the playoffs last season, a possibility that they hope to replicate this year, which is heavily hinged upon Griffin’s return to full health.
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