Detroit Pistons: 3 takeaways from Game 2 loss vs. Bucks

2. Blake Griffin makes this team as good as they can be

This is an obvious statement, but, as Thon Maker continues to struggle to start in the Blake Griffin spot, it becomes all the more clear that this team needs Griffin in the lineup to help them reach their ceiling.

He shoots well from 3-point range (36.2 percent in the regular season), and he initiates the offense for everyone else around him. If Griffin is unable to go moving forward, the series will likely be a sweep for the Bucks.

Griffin said earlier in the week that he could be playing, but the team’s doctors aren’t allowing it.

That may be for his benefit, as the team would likely be nothing more than a blip on the radar for the Bucks. Milwaukee has been lucky enough to avoid injuries to their major stars, but, when you only have one real star, the absence of that star makes all the difference in the world.

Moving forward with Griffin as the team’s starting power forward works and make sense despite the league moving to favor guards over bigs. He is going to be the player that helps them compete over the next few years, and he is going to lead them as far as they can go. If that means they get swept out of the first round then so be it.