LINEUP SHAKEUP: Why the Detroit Pistons MUST Consider a BOLD Change to Their Starting Rotation
Detroit Pistons face a turning point as their starting lineup comes under scrutiny. With Cade Cunningham in the All-Star spotlight and the team’s offense slipping in recent games, is it time for J.B. Bickerstaff to bench Tobias Harris and shake up the rotation? The question looms: could moving Isaiah Stewart or Ron Holland into the starting five reignite Detroit’s momentum and address key defensive concerns?
Ku Khahil breaks down the Pistons’ recent regression, highlighting Jalen Duren’s evolving offensive game, Ausar Thompson’s inconsistent performances, and the ongoing need for improved spacing and fewer turnovers. Topics include net rating drops, strategic lineup changes, and trade possibilities to strengthen Detroit’s playoff push. With Detroit holding the Eastern Conference lead, can they bounce back—and who will join Cade Cunningham at the All-Star Game? Don’t miss this essential analysis of the Pistons’ pivotal moment.
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30 Comments
1st Listen. Yeah Ku it is what it is. Tobias Harris seem like he would be at his best coming off the bench if not a part of a trade. We can't sit pat. We need a 4 that can shoot and more importantly, long arm slam dunk on dudes heads when Cade drive and dump it off to him.
The problem with Stewart at PF is JB won't give him instructions. He should take a lot of corner 3's, but whenever he's at 4 he tries to seal smaller guys and only stands in the corner on some set plays
Tobias for Stew & Ivey for Duncan… let’s just see..if Ausar keep looking trash, put Holland in for him
The Pistons wins are brutally ugly and unsustainable, I knew this was going to happen because they've been over achieving.
Not a fan of thompson the pistons need an elite point.Guard cunningham is a small forward
Facts…D. J. Is a better pg then J.I.
I'd be stunned if this ended up being a starting line-up but once Ivey is fully cleared of his minutes restriction, I'd be curious to see how a Cade/Ivey/Duncan/Ausar/Duren lineup would fare. Probably can't run that against a side with 2+ A-grade wings/guards, but it'd be interesting to see when a side's got half starters half bench guys in
Not going to panic on a 5 game West Coast swing. Thought we would go 3-2 before the trip.
The offense is falling off because JB stopped going to Duren as the second option as well as running the offense through the two of them.
For everything Thompson does well he messes up a different way he's a great athlete but not that smart of a defensive player continuously reaching getting beat offensively you can't trust nothing he does if we could dump him in a good trade I would do it he's not untouchable
We just had too many one-dimensional role players is your pretty good offensively and lousy defensively we take too much valuable in being a deep team we need another star at least playoff time those role players ain't going to do nothing for you.
I want to see the Pistons move JI back into the starting lineup hoping he plays as the 24/25 version that shot 40.9 from 3pt and 17.9ppg on 29mpg. Last season there was conversation of him becoming a candidate for most improve player.
Yes start Holland , Green or Ivey. I can't lie though Ivey looks cooked 😢
We need a four Tobias Harris has a better all-around game than either one of those options he's not great but he is solid. You can't trust Ron Holland too many mistakes too many bad fouls. We should go get to cam Thomas as a pure scorer it's only so much defense you can play this is offensive League referees don't let you touch anybody.
Just need one more shooter and this roster would be scary for the league
How about the overlooked fact that our young players like Thompson and Holland are not developing 🤷🏿♂️.. Ivey was shooting better before his injury and Duren has gotten a little better but we have a problem with three important young players. Ivey because of injury he doesn't look explosive anymore and Thompson and Holland can't shoot the ball. We're forced to play Tobias and Duncan more minutes 💯🤷🏿♂️
My theory (based on no evidence) is that this west coast trip OVER THE HOLIDAYS is particularly hard for our younger roster. They are pros and it shouldn’t affect them… but maybe it is. I know I probably would be.
Ivey and Tobias have been shaky any trade would include Ausar or Duren
Ku is right. Tobias is a good role player off the bench. Wake up JB.
I wonder what Sheed is up to these days LOL!
I like the show but at this point I’m convinced that Ku just don’t know ball 🤦♂️🤦♂️
I don't like Tobias Harris never did he trash we need to trade him I also don't like Asar Thompson he turns the ball over every time he dribbles and he could never ever finish at the rim unless he's by himself for a dunk ron Holland also turn the ball over every time he dribbles it's like half of this team has no ball handling skills know whatsoever it's turnover after turnover every time they dribble the ball and it's been like this every game I'm not talking about the one against the clippers like why is that ?
Ku, I think you are wrong. What we need more of is LeVert and Tobias. They need 5 more minutes a game. JB trusts them. With more of both we will surely win 60 games.
Definitely feels like a fall incoming line up must change asap
Deeetroit basketball 🏀 Beef Stew
I can tell you that Tobias Harris has definitely had periods before, noticeably last year, where for a couple of weeks at a time he has stunk up the place. Previously he has snapped out of it. As he gets older, will he turn things around as the season progresses? Dunno, just don't have the answer to that one. They are paying Bick and Trajan to navigate that. Pistons need more talent to contend for a championship, one of them is a two-way PF.
One of the Lions writers had a tweet that they felt bad for the Pistons because now that the Lions are done, all their casuals were gonna move on to Pistons panic once they lost back to back games. And here we are.
Cade, Ivey, Ausar, Stewart, Duren
Just do it already
Something to consider is guys are coming back to earth from a shooting standpoint and are not getting out in the open court. The half court offense is still a grind and predictable
The Pistons need to make a lineup change I think they should put in Jaden Ivey in the starting lineup and I've said this before they need to trade Tobias Harris I mean I watched the game against the Mavericks in Dallas he didn't score no points in that game. The Pistons need to get someone that can shoot 3s I don't want Anthony Davis he gets hurt so many times and it just won't be a perfect fit but if I had a player in mind it would be Michael Porter Jr from the Brooklyn Nets he would be a perfect fit for the Pistons this is just my opinion.