2019 NBA Playoffs: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Detroit Pistons preview

Key Question No. 1: Is Blake Griffin healthy?

For the majority of the season, Griffin was a dependable face in the starting lineup, appearing in 69 of the first 72 games. He put up some of the best numbers in his career to lead the Detroit Pistons into playoff position. Then a knee injury sidelined him for four of the final six games, a stretch that saw the Pistons slip and barely make it into the postseason.

This is par for the course with Griffin, who has missed part or all of the games in nearly every postseason for years. Fluke injuries seem to flock to him, and the intensity of the playoffs means a lot will be expected of him. If he enters below 100 percent, it may be only a matter of time before he goes down with another injury.

When healthy, the Pistons thrive and Griffin soars, scoring inside and out and showing himself to be a deserving All-NBA selection. That doesn’t mean a healthy Griffin would lead to an upset, as this Pistons team is limited in a number of areas and will likely lose even if Griffin plays. Yet without him, the Pistons are starting Thon Maker, who, short of an insane revenge game, is not going to have a high-level impact.

Not counting the final game of the season, Griffin missed six games. The Pistons went 1-5 in those games, with a net rating of -8.3. The Chicago Bulls finished 22-60 and for the season had a -8.4 net rating. Without Griffin, this team falls apart.