The Detroit Pistons have played pretty well so far at 12-11, and that is made more impressive by the fact that they haven't been whole yet this season. Brandon Jennings has yet to play this season, and Jodie Meeks has played just two games, but both seem to be getting closer to a return. It is being reported that before they return to the team both Meeks and Jennings might spend some time in the D-League, according to David Mayo of MLive.com.
Both Jennings and Meeks are expected to be back within the next few weeks, and head coach Stan Van Gundy thinks it would be wise for them to play a few games with the Grand Rapids Drive, the Pistons D-League affiliate, although they would have to agree to the assignment.
"I think it helps with the conditioning because the only way to get in basketball shape is to play basketball. We play so many games that practice time is limited, and practice time isn't that long. Your chance to go get 35 minutes a game, and really get your conditioning back, would be to do something like that. But our guys are a little different because they're veteran guys. It would have to be something they're willing to do and we haven't broached that subject yet," said Van Gundy.
Jennings is recovering from a torn Achilles he suffered last season, and his timeline for a return has been all over the place, but it seems like he is finally getting close. Jennings has been doing more and more in his rehab, and the Pistons could really use him, as they have struggled at the backup point guard spot with Steve Blake and Spencer Dinwiddie as the fill-ins. Jennings recently said he had no issue with taking a backup role, according to Terry Foster of the Detroit News, and he has no other choice because Reggie Jackson is starting and playing extremely well.
Meeks, on the other hand, suffered a fractured foot just two games into the season and was initially given a 12-16 week timetable to return. That timeline was moved down to about six-eight weeks, and he seems to be on track for that new timetable. It wasn't easy to get a feel for Meeks' role before the injury, but since he has been out he hasn't been replaced in the rotation, and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope has played huge minutes so his return should allow Van Gundy to lighten Caldwell-Pope's load, and Meeks will provide three-point shooting to a team that hasn't shot all that well this year from deep (32 percent.)
