Blake Griffin will be sidelined through the first week of November with a knee and hamstring injury according to Shams Charania of The Athletic.
Blake Griffin Sidelined with Knee Injury
A Big Miss
The 30-year-old power forward is coming off a career year statistically. He averaged a career-high 24.5 points, 5.4 assists, and 6.2 rebounds, earning an All-NBA third team nod in the process. Griffin has been the shining star that carried the Detroit Pistons to the playoffs last year. He has expanded his game drastically since he entered the league in 2010-11 where he was the closest thing to Charles Barkley the league had seen. He has modified his game, shooting 36 percent from three on seven attempts per game.
The void of the six-time All-Star at power forward will have to be filled by a combination of Thon Maker, Christian Wood, and Markieff Morris. The 2018-19 Pistons limped into the 8th seed with a 41-41 record. If Griffin misses any additional times, the Playoffs will be a tall task for the Pistons. Fortunately for Detroit fans, the Pistons have one of the easiest schedules in the NBA prior to December.
Favorable Schedule
They will play the Indiana Pacers, without All-Star Victor Oladipo twice, the Atlanta Hawks, the Washington Wizards, the New York Knicks, the Minnesota Timberwolves, and the Charlotte Hornets all before the third week of November. None of these teams are even contenders for the playoffs.
The team will have to be carried by Andre Drummond, new signing Derrick Rose, and sharpshooter Luke Kennard. Kennard, in particular, began to show promise during his second NBA season. The former Duke shooting guard looked more comfortable on the ball in an expanded role. If Detroit can tread water until Griffin returns, then they may still have a chance to make the playoffs. If not, Blake Griffin might be the most sought after player on the trade market for perspective championship contenders.
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