Pistons bench two top-five picks amid losing streak

The Detroit Pistons made a pair of serious lineup modifications earlier than their 118-112 loss to the New York Knicks on Thursday night time, benching Jaden Ivey and rookie Ausar Thompson for Killian Hayes and Isaiah Livers. With their sixteenth straight loss, they turned the primary group to go winless for a whole month because the 2015 Sixers.

Coach Monty Williams making the choice to bench each Ivey and Thompson is important. Ivey was a key starter for Detroit final season after being chosen with the No. 5 general decide within the 2022 draft, averaging 16.3 factors in 73 begins final yr. Nevertheless, his position has been way more suppressed this yr beneath Williams. His effectivity is up (50.8% from the ground this yr getting into Thursday in comparison with 41.6% final season), however he’s solely began in 5 of his 15 appearances and was right down to 23.4 minutes (from 31.1) getting into Thursday.

Ivey didn’t start the yr as a starter, with Hayes taking over that position to start the yr earlier than relenting it to Ivey over the previous 5 video games. Hayes, the No. 7 general decide in 2020, was averaging 8.5 factors and 4.4 assists getting into Thursday however recorded 23 factors on 76.9% capturing in opposition to New York.

According to ESPN’s Tim Bontemps, Williams mentioned the choice to begin Hayes over Ivey got here right down to him liking Hayes’ capacity to permit Cade Cunningham to play off the ball extra. He additionally likes how the fourth-year guard can get the group organized.

Thompson, nonetheless, was a full-time starter earlier than his benching Thursday. The 2023 No. 5 general decide had been one of the crucial spectacular rookies this season, averaging 11.4 factors, 9.3 rebounds, 1.1 steals and 1.6 blocks. Livers began in his place, recording six factors and 4 rebounds.

Neither Thompson or Ivey performed main roles off the bench on Thursday, with each showing in simply 13 minutes of recreation time, although Thompson had 5 fouls. That marks Ivey’s second lowest minute complete this season and Thompson’s lowest in his younger profession. Marcus Sasser completed with probably the most minutes off the bench, recording 17 factors.

Regardless that dropping their sixteenth straight recreation is disappointing, the Pistons saved it shut with the Knicks and appeared to seek out one thing with how they utilized Cunningham, notes Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press. Cunningham completed with 31 factors and eight assists.

We’ll be watching Detroit to see what occurs with their younger items shifting ahead. To this point, their younger core hasn’t meshed nicely and strikes might be on the way in which if their dropping methods proceed. Within the brief time period, Bojan Bogdanovic is expected back soon, which ought to assist with their spacing points (they ranked twenty ninth in made threes getting into Thursday).