NBA Power Rankings Week 17: A new number one and a lot of injuries

PHILADELPHIA, PA - APRIL 14: Ben Simmons #25 of the Philadelphia 76ers guards Kyrie Irving #11 of the Brooklyn Nets in the second quarter at the Wells Fargo Center on April 14, 2021 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. (Photo by Mitchell Leff/Getty Images) /

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. Previous: . Detroit Pistons. 27. team. 64.

Last Week: Lost to LA Clippers 131-124, Lost to LA Clippers 100-98, Beat Oklahoma City Thunder 110-104, Lost to Washington Wizards 121-100

This Week: 4/19 vs. Cleveland Cavaliers, 4/21 at Dallas Mavericks, 4/22 at San Antonio Spurs, 4/24 at Indiana Pacers

The youth movement is on and the Detroit Pistons remain in the race to the bottom, despite an ill-timed win against a fellow tanking team in the Oklahoma City Thunder. Killian Hayes is showing, slowly for some, that labeling him a bust after seven games was probably a bad idea. He has thrown some magical passes that bend gravity in ways Pistons fans have not seen in years.

The story of the week for the young Pistons is Isaiah Stewart. Over the course of the week, he averaged 13.3 points, 11.8 rebounds and 1.3 blocks per game. He had a career-high 19 points against the Washington Wizards last night. He had a career-high 21 rebounds (including nine offensive!) against the Thunder. The fact that he is still continuing to hit 3-pointers is promising for his development in the future. Stewart is here to stay and the Detroit faithful have already fully embraced him online. Getting more fans back in the arena will only increase the love for him.

Elsewhere, the Pistons are still mostly struggling. Frank Jackson (13.3 points per game) and Josh Jackson (20.3 points per game) had solid weeks. Jerami Grant missed two of the four games for injury management. Sekou Doumbouya is steadily getting more confident but continues to incur head and neck injuries.