The Detroit Pistons will start the season without star power forward Blake Griffin, who will be out until early November because of lingering issues with his knee and a sore hamstring.
Pistons head coach Dwane Casey told reporters on Wednesday the team is being “conservative” with Griffin.
“We’re being very conservative with him and his soreness. We’re used to playing without him,” Casey said after Wednesday’s shootaround at Bankers Life Fieldhouse, via The Detroit News. “Everybody has to be ready and that’s one of the reasons we went out and signed Markieff (Morris) and kept Christian Wood and Thon (Maker) is available.
“We’re used to life without Blake; we’d rather have him, but we’re used to life without him.”
Griffin appeared in 75 games for the Pistons last season. The high-flyer put up 24.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.4 assists per game while shooting 46.2 percent from the field, 36.2 percent from beyond the arc and 75.3 percent from the free-throw line.
The Pistons made the playoffs last season for the first time since 2016. They got swept by the Milwaukee Bucks in the first round. Griffin only played in Games 3 and 4 due to a knee injury that required surgery after the postseason ended.
Andre Drummond, Reggie Jackson, Derrick Rose and Luke Kennard will have to step up in the absence of Griffin.
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