Report: Bojan Bogdanovic nearing..
It’s possible that the Detroit Pistons’ leading scorer from a year ago—the one player who could be most important in ending the team’s franchise-record 15-game losing streak—will soon return.
Numerous media reports claim that Bojan Bogdanovic, who averaged 21.6 points and shot 41% from three on six attempts per game last season, is getting closer to returning to the lineup.
He is listed as questionable on the Pistons’ injury report for the first time this season, and Shams Charania of The Athletic says that he could play tonight against the New York Knicks. Meanwhile, sources tell ESPN’s Adrian Wojnarowski that he is more likely to return against the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday.
You could argue that Bojan is the Pistons’ best player, most important player, or both; however, it is abundantly clear that he is the only significant component that has the potential to assist the Pistons in escaping the tailspin that they are in at the moment.
Detroit has suffered an unprecedented 15 consecutive defeats, and the losses are only getting worse. These players look, honestly, shook. Their coach says that because they are so young and have so many flaws, they can’t stay in their own way and deal with challenges.
Enter veteran Bogdanovic, who has been with the Pistons for nine years. He is far from perfect, but he can be a steadying force, a floor spacer, a small-time ball mover, and, frankly, one of the only Pistons players who helps his teammates on the offensive end get things done.
Intruder can give Cade Cunningham a space to work, he can be a dependable outlet on a kickout, he can assist with forestalling long scoring dry spells, and he could frame a decent matching with youngster Ausar Thompson as cross-matching protective and hostile experts that assist with concealing the most incredibly glaring blemish of the other wing player.
The question of how Bojan would be utilized by head coach Monty Williams is intriguing. Especially now that this team’s offensive flaws are so clearly on display, it is clear that Bogdanovic will be the starter for this team. The inquiry, then, is whom he dislodges in the beginning arrangement.
Jalen Duren, a center, Isaiah Stewart, a power forward, Ausar Thompson, a small forward, and Jaden Ivey, a shooting guard, are the potential candidates.
Either Stewart or Thompson could be completely supplanted or they could be moving situations in the beginning setup. Stewart could begin at focus to assist with keeping some guard on the floor or Thompson could supplant Ivey with Stewart keeping his power forward spot and moving Bogdanovic into Thompson’s previous home at little forward.
He has a defense that can be switched around, and he might even end up in closing lineups. However, I don’t think he has the size to be the starting center.
The admonition there is how much breathing space they need to give Duren, who is scarcely 20 and battles consistently sorting out some way to protectively execute. Duren will continue to be your starting center if they want to allow him to play through some mistakes because of his size, vertical gravity, and rebounding ability.
If Williams has any desire to place Duren in less upsetting matchups or have the opportunity to play and sit him unreservedly founded on his guarded slips, he could pick to bring him off the seat.
Being able to finally add Bogdanovic to the Pistons’ roster is unquestionably one of the welcome changes that the team and the fans would like to see.
