Pistons at Pacers
The Indiana Pacers flew under the radar last season and battled for the No. 3 spot in the Eastern Conference before settling for No. 5 and bowing out in the first round of the playoffs. The Detroit Pistons, who host the Pacers in the season opener on Wednesday, underperformed relative to their own expectations in 2018-19 and are hoping to get off to a strong start in 2019-20.
Indiana brought in several players with experience filling up the basket - T.J. Warren, Jeremy Lamb, Malcolm Brogdon and Justin Holiday - to help the team cover the scoring load until Victor Oladipo (knee) returns to the lineup, and chemistry is a concern. "There's only one ball," Pacers coach Nate McMillan told reporters. "They're going to have to learn to trust each other and play the game for the right reasons. Sometimes that's not easy, to put a lot of offensive guys out there. If they're not willing to sacrifice and play in the best interests of the team (changes will be made)." The Pistons are counting on another year of chemistry development between Blake Griffin, Andre Drummond and Reggie Jackson but health will play a big factor, and Griffin (hamstring, knee) will miss the opener and may not make his season debut until November. "Working through it. Working with our training staff, doing what I can," Griffin told reporters before being declared out. "Also trying to realize that it's an 82-game schedule. I think sometimes we get a little overhyped on that first game, so got to be patient, listen to our training staff. I trust them completely, like I always have. We'll figure it out."
TV: 7 p.m. ET, FS Detroit, FS Indiana
ABOUT THE PISTONS (2018-19: 41-41): Detroit's roster additions included bringing in former MVP Derrick Rose and veteran forward Markieff Morris. "I think we've got a lot of competitors on this team, but things like that you really find out who you are through the course of battle," Griffin told reporters. "Through the ups and downs and adversity. That's when you really find out who you are as a team and when you really come together as a team. I love this team and I love our competitive spirit. We have great guys on the team." The Pistons will go as far as Griffin will take them and he is hoping to do even better than the 24.5 points, 7.5 rebounds and 5.4 assists he averaged in 75 games last season.
ABOUT THE PACERS (2018-19: 48-34): Oladipo is practicing with the team and has raised his activity level to five-on-five scrimmages but there is still no timetable for his return, leaving Brogdon to distribute the scoring chances among the rest of the roster. "We have so many scorers," Brogdon told the team's website. "Everybody can get their own shot. It's important for me as a point guard to put people in the right positions and make sure everyone is touching the ball. The (emphasis) will be on Victor and getting him his touches, but other than that you have guys ... who need shots, too. It's going to be up to me to get them the ball." Brogdon was the big steal in free agency coming from division rival Milwaukee in a sign-and-trade deal and he averaged 15.6 points and 3.2 assists last season.
BUZZER BEATERS
1. The Pacers signed PF Domantas Sabonis to a four-year, $77 million extension on Monday.
2. Detroit exercised its 2020-21 option on SG Luke Kennard, who averaged 9.7 points on 43.8 percent shooting in 2018-19.
3. Indiana took three of the four meetings last season.