Detroit Pistons: Surviving without an injured Avery Bradley

The Detroit Pistons look for ways to keep winning with Avery Bradley out of the lineup for at least another week.

The Detroit Pistons have weathered a rough stretch in the last month.

After losing seven games in a row, the team has rebounded with a three-game win streak, two of which came without Avery Bradley. He’s been the team’s defensive soul since Detroit acquired him from the Boston Celtics in the offseason.

After the Denver Nuggets annihilated the Pistons at Little Caesars Arena, 103-84, the team bounced back, even with Bradley missing the last two games due to a nagging groin injury.

That injury will sideline Bradley for at least another week.  He is going to miss at least three games while he recovers. The earliest he could return would be Dec. 28, when Detroit travels to Orlando.

Per NBA.com’s Keith Langlois, after practice, Tuesday Van Gundy explained the nature of Bradley’s injury and why a clear timetable for his return couldn’t be set.

"“He’s going to be shut down for at least a week,” Van Gundy said after Tuesday’s practice. “We’ll go at least seven days and then week to week. It’s going to take some time. He’ll basically do nothing for the next seven days and then we’ll see where he is and whether we’re starting him back or not.”"

Stan Van Gundy needs to fill the void Bradley left in his absence. He is the team’s most prolific defender and the second-leading scorer on the team, averaging 15.7 points per game.

Van Gundy talked with Langlois about how his absence affects the team going forward.

"“We thought depth would probably be our biggest strength. Now, situations like these force you to find out,” Van Gundy said. “Avery is about as tough as anybody for us to lose. You lose a guy at both ends and it’s tough. But our depth is good and our guys are capable of stepping up, and our other guys like Reggie Jackson, Tobias [Harris] and Andre [Drummond] have to be consistently productive."

Bradley’s injury gives players the opportunity to impress Van Gundy.

"“I think where you want to be if you’re a Langston Galloway or one of those shooters off the bench is in a place where you do the other things like defend that keep you on the court on the nights where every shot’s not dropping. Langston’s been more attentive to that and it’s an important thing. You don’t want to be a guy that you’ve got to make your first three shots to stay in the game,” Van Gundy said."

Right now it seems that Van Gundy is content to make adjustments on the fly while everyone plays a part in this carefully orchestrated play.

"“All of the wing guys [will play more],” Van Gundy said. “Without Avery, Stanley, Reggie Bullock, Luke and Langston [Galloway] are all going to play.”"

The good news is the schedule sets up very well for the Pistons while Bradley heals. Wednesday night they hope to extend their winning streak when they face the Dallas Mavericks on the road.

Friday night they return home to Detroit to take on the New York Knicks. The team gets a short break for Christmas after Friday’s game. Maybe some Christmas magic will have Bradley well enough to suit up against the Indiana Pacers in Detroit on Dec. 26.

For now, rookie Luke Kennard is in the starting lineup and ready to seize the opportunity. Kennard also spoke to Langlois during practice and talked about the expectations he’s set for himself.

"“My aggressiveness needs to pick up more,” he said. “I feel like I need to bring a little more to the team. I don’t want to do something that is out of my comfort zone. I don’t want to be someone that I’m not. I know the coaches don’t want that, but they want me to be more aggressive, more assertive. So my mind is all about that right now. I’m focused on that and what I can bring. And I want to bring more.”"

Jon Leur also remains inactive. Leur has been out with since Oct. 31 with a sprained ankle. He received injections to the injured ankle on Dec. 6.

"“He’s out 16 days on a two-to-four-week timetable to start to ramp up,” Van Gundy said. “He did some work on the ultra G [treadmill] at about 60 percent of his body weight the other day, didn’t go real well. But that’s just at the two-week point. That just means we got to slow down and get back to it and we’ll see at another period of time. Not great news, but we’re still in the timetable of when he could go.”"

Next: 2017-18 Week 10 NBA Power Rankings

The Pistons are fourth in the Eastern Conference and 17-13 on the season. The team is seven games behind the Boston Celtics in the Eastern Conference.