BOSTON – The last time Boston played Detroit, Brandon Jennings was nearing a return to the floor after suffering a ruptured left Achilles injury on Jan. 24, 2014.
Well he’s back now, providing yet another challenge for the Boston Celtics heading into tonight’s game.
He has appeared in four games, the last of which was a 17-point effort while playing just 18 minutes in a 115-89 home win against Orlando on Monday.
Jennings certainly provides Detroit with some much-needed offensive punch, although it appears he’ll be delivering it off the bench as of now with former Boston College standout Reggie Jackson remaining as the Pistons’ starting point guard.
The sample size of the two playing together is still small so it’s too soon to say if the two can co-exist together and both be effective.
Both have proven themselves to be high-volume scorers who have been at their best with the ball in hand more often than not, looking for their shot.
And then there’s the issue of making sure they get enough minutes.
Boston Celtics
This season, Jackson is averaging 19.7 points in 31.1 minutes per game.
In the four games since Jennings’ return to the lineup, Jackson’s scoring has dropped to 15.5 points as well as his minutes played (28.3) per game.
Jennings, a career 33.8 minutes per game player, has averaged 18.8 minutes in his four games this season.
The gap in minutes played between Jackson and Jennings will likely continue to narrow as the season progresses, with playing time being a potential issue.
“It will become an issue I’m sure,” said Stan Van Gundy who doubles as the Pistons’ head coach as well as their president of basketball operations.
But it’s not something he’s overly concerned about, either.
“Anytime you’re dealing with the issue of trying to get enough minutes for more good players,” Van Gundy said, “that’s a good issue to have.”