Coty and Tarohn discuss the roles of Daniss Jenkins and Duncan Robinson with the first-place Pistons.
Coty and Tarohn discuss the roles of Daniss Jenkins and Duncan Robinson with the first-place Pistons.
Detroit — The Detroit Pistons are regaining their health at an opportune moment. Their 120-112 victory over the Atlanta Hawks on Tuesday night was significant as it marked Cade Cunningham’s return after he missed three games due to a hip injury. Ausar Thompson also returned to the lineup after sitting out four games due to a right ankle sprain.
The Pistons are gradually bringing back their injured core, but Tobias Harris is the only player who has not returned. Harris has missed nine consecutive games due to a right ankle sprain. He last played during the Pistons’ 122-110 victory over the Dallas Mavericks on Nov. 1 in Mexico City, where he finished with 11 points and six rebounds in 35 minutes.
“It’s just one of those things that takes a little longer than you would like, but he’s progressing day to day,” coach J.B. Bickerstaff said earlier this month. “We’re hopeful he’ll be back soon.”
Harris has played six games this season. Before the injury, Harris had regained his role as one of the Pistons’ vital contributors, averaging 13.5 points on 39.4% shooting from the field and 6.8 rebounds. His best game came during the Pistons’ 135-116 victory over the Orlando Magic on Oct. 29, where Harris poured in a season-high 23 points on 8-of-13 shooting. His performance at Little Caesars Arena marked the beginning of the Pistons’ 11-game winning streak.
Harris appeared in only two games during the streak, so their success without him has been a testament to their growth and maturity as a team.
“You do see growth in our guys in situational basketball and the emotional piece of the game,” Bickerstaff said. “Having the understanding of time, score and possession, I think we have done a better job of that this year.”
Since the beginning of last season, Harris’ demeanor and leadership have created a solid foundation for the team to rely on in challenging in-game moments. The calmness of his presence has led Bickerstaff to refer to Harris as his “safety blanket” on several occasions.
While observing from the sidelines over the previous nine games, Harris has served as a voice of reason, helping the Pistons control the chaos, but their execution in his absence has been effortless.
“He is still that (my safety blanket); he has been on the bench and having conversations with guys,” Bickerstaff said. “Controlling our emotions, I think we have done a better job of that for the most part. Those were always those things where he has been leaning on guys and teaching guys, and you can see it coming into fruition.”
The Pistons assigned Harris to the Motor City Cruise on Thursday, where he joined Jaden Ivey, who is currently recovering from an arthroscopic procedure on his right knee. Bickerstaff said Harris is “getting better every day,” despite not having a timetable for his return.
“We just want him to play,” Bickerstaff said. “We were going through a stretch where we would not get a lot of five-on-five time in practice. So, we wanted those guys to go down to Motor City and get an opportunity to play some five-on-five basketball.”
Pistons (13-2) at Bucks (8-8)
▶ Tipoff: 8 p.m. Saturday, Fiserv Forum, Milwaukee
▶ TV/radio: FDSN/97.1 FM
▶ Pistons injuries: Jaden Ivey (right knee arthroscopy; out), Marcus Sasser (right hip impingement; out) and Tobias Harris (right ankle sprain; out).
▶ Projected lineups: Pistons — guards Cade Cunningham, Daniss Jenkins; forwards Duncan Robinson, Ausar Thompson; center Jalen Duren. Bucks — guards Ryan Rollins, AJ Green; forwards Kyle Kuzma, Bobby Portis; center Myles Turner.
coty.davis@detroitnews.com
@cotydavis_24
