2019 NBA Playoffs: Milwaukee Bucks vs. Detroit Pistons preview

Key Question No. 2: Who on Detroit will step up?

If Blake Griffin has been the top option for the Pistons all season, putting up extraordinary numbers, there is no player who stands out as the “second option” or wingman to Griffin. Andre Drummond should be, but has somewhat flatlined in his development over the past couple of seasons.

Reggie Jackson is the other obvious choice, but he has devolved into a role player barely earning a spot off the bench; unfortunately he still starts and plays plenty of minutes. Defensively he’s going to be blown up by the Bucks; guards can beat him off the dribble, or off-ball with cuts, and if he hits a screen, he dies like a flame in water.

Perhaps the answer is Wayne Ellington, the former Miami Heat gunner who has flashed a wider diversity of scoring abilities since joining the Pistons. Over his past 10 games, he’s averaged 13.8 points per game, including dropping 24 on the Indiana Pacers in Griffin’s absence.

Whoever the answer is, this team will need more than just Blake Griffin to upset the Milwaukee Bucks. They will need someone else to step up, and the options are not looking good. Head coach Dwayne Casey has made some strides getting this team to the postseason in his first year, but his next large task will be developing the young talent on this team.