The Detroit Pistons are off to an impressive start this season as they won each of their first two games against the Atlanta Hawks and the Utah Jazz, two very good teams. There is a lot of optimism in Detroit about this year's team but they took a bit of a hit while winning their second game of the season as they lost Jodie Meeks. Meeks suffered a Jones fracture in his right foot during the game, according to David Mayo of MLive Media Group.
The timetable for Meeks' return to action is 6-8 weeks but it is the same injury that Kevin Durant had last year and it kept him out for the majority of the season. Even if Meeks does miss the minimum amount of six weeks the Pistons will have a spot in their rotation to fill while he is gone. Meeks was the backup shooting guard behind Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and is a dead eye shooter so somebody will have to step into that spot.
The options Stan Van Gundy has are Reggie Bullock, Darrun Hilliard and Spencer Dinwiddie but the most likely to step in as the replacement though is Bullock, according to Rotoworld. Dinwiddie is a point guard by trade and Hilliard is a rookie so it kind of makes Bullock the option by default but Van Gundy was extremely impressed with his play this preseason.
Bullock came into Pistons training camp fighting for a roster spot with several other players and he earned a spot with his performance. Not only did he earn a spot, the Pistons also picked up Bullock's option for next year so they clearly see him as someone that could be a useful piece.
Bullock didn't play a single minute in the Pistons first game but he did play six minutes in the second game although he didn't score a point. Now he should have more of an opportunity though since Meeks is out although Meeks only played 17 minutes himself in the first two games so Van Gundy may not want to use much of a backup shooting guard. Stanley Johnson is the backup small forward but he is capable of playing the two so it is possible that Van Gundy just shortens his rotation with Meeks out but it does seem likely that Bullock is in for a role increase and he can really shoot the ball so the Pistons shouldn't lose too much.
