The Detroit Pistons have announced that star power forward Blake Griffin will not travel to Indiana for the regular-season opener against the Pacers on Wednesday night. Griffin is still dealing with hamstring and knee soreness. The All-Star will be reevaluated in the first week of November:
The Pistons announced Blake Griffin will not travel to Indiana while continuing a treatment and conditioning regimen for left hamstring and posterior knee soreness. He will be re-evaluated for a return to action the first week of November.
— Tim Bontemps (@TimBontemps) October 22, 2019
Griffin underwent surgery on his knee in the offseason after it bothered him to finish last season. While he managed to play 75 games in the regular season, he only appeared in two playoff games as the Pistons were swept away by the top-seeded Milwaukee Bucks.
Griffin did play in two preseason games, but the hamstring issue and lingering knee soreness limited him.
This is bad news for a Pistons team that badly needs Griffin to be at full strength if they're going to return to the postseason. Detroit barely managed to sneak in last season despite Griffin having arguably the best campaign of his career. He went for 24.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game while shooting 46.2% overall and 36.2% from 3-land.
Without Griffin, the Pistons will rely more on Andre Drummond, Reggie Jackson, Derrick Rose, Markieff Morris and Luke Kennard. Jackson (probable) and Morris (questionable) are currently dealing with some lower back tightness ahead of Wednesday's game against the Pacers.
Pistons rookie Sekou Doumbouya is in concussion protocol and also will not make the trip to Indiana.
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