Pistons cope with ailing starting backcourt
New York — For the most part this season, the Pistons’ starting lineup has remained intact, as they’ve used the same lineup for 46 of their 48 games.
Besides Ersan Ilyasova’s groin injury that kept him out of Saturday’s loss to the Toronto Raptors, the Pistons also are dealing with nagging issues to their backcourt. Reggie Jackson is having issues with dehydration and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope is dealing with a sore oblique muscle.
Jackson’s condition was so concerning that he stayed in Toronto following the game to receive further treatment and to ensure there wasn’t anything more serious going on.
“The last two games, I was feeling a little under the weather and not where I should be. I’m trying to get better and make sure I’m as close to 100 percent for my teammates as possible,” Jackson said following Monday’s shootaround in Manhattan. “It just doesn’t feel right; it feels like my body is overheating and freezing at the same time, as well as queasy. Just haven’t been feeling myself. I have to find a way to battle through it.”
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Jackson flew to New York on Sunday morning after tests showed there were no serious issues. He’s working through it as best he can and participated in Monday’s walkthrough but they’ll continue to monitor his status.
“They got him some rest and some fluids and he didn’t fly with us and then he came yesterday morning,” coach Stan Van Gundy said Monday. “It was just more dehydration and exhaustion, but he looked fine this morning.
“They actually did some bloodwork on him just to see, but everything was fine. They kept him there and you don’t want to be up in the air if you have a problem.”
Jackson’s fatigue played a role late in the Raptors game, as Brandon Jennings finished the game while Jackson and a couple other starters remained on the bench.
Jackson said the recent episodes are not the first time he’s experienced breathing issues and had the symptoms, but they’ll keep working to find out what can be done.
“I’m gassed. I’m just trying to compete and play hard. I’ve always been trying to make sure everything’s all right and get check-ups,” he said. “We’ll continue to go through the process to figure out what’s going on. I trust in the organization and the staff and everything they’re doing to make sure I’m OK.”
Caldwell-Pope’s situation is a little more workable, as he’s dealing with sore oblique muscles, after taking a couple of hits in recent games. Van Gundy said Caldwell-Pope will remain in the lineup, but isn’t quite at 100 percent.
“He’s able to play but he’s uncomfortable and you see him grabbing at it a lot,” Van Gundy said. “He doesn’t have enough padding there like I do. He’s a little sore but he’s OK.”
Jackson and Caldwell-Pope have started every game this season and Caldwell-Pope ranks second in the league in minutes played (37.4).
Ilyasova was questionable to play Monday against the Nets.
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