With the Pistons losing starting point guard Delon Wright to a groin injury and the Knicks losing Elfrid Payton to a hamstring strain, Sunday’s Motown PG match is set.
Derrick Rose vs. Dennis Smith Jr. at the Little Caesar’s Arena in Detroit.
Rose and Smith exchanged for each other three weeks ago and things turned out great for the Knicks.
Rose, in his second straight game since Payton went down, went for 17 points, 11 assists and five steals in Saturday’s big win over the Pacers to move them to .500 (17-17).
It’s enlightening for the Pistons too, as Detroit looks to revive the Knicks outcast Smith. Pistons coach Dwane Casey made Smith the starting point guard four games ago, and he’s found his mojo.
During that period, Smith has averaged 12 points in 21.6 minutes and shot 50 percent – 46.7 from 3. He averaged four assists and 1.5 steals.
“Honestly, you never want to get too comfortable because you end up getting complacent,” Smith said on the eve of the Knicks showdown. “But you can definitely see when the feeling for the game starts to come back, especially from the situation where I came from. I feel my feelings come back to me. “
Smith, once the center of the Kristaps Porzingis trade, played just three early games for the Knicks – two in trash. Then he hurt his quad bike and never returned to the track for the trade. He eventually asked for representatives to the G League training camp for Westchester.
It was in the Atlanta G League bubble where Smith learned on Super Bowl Sunday that he was moving to Detroit. After the trade, Smith said at a Zoom press conference that he was “smiling all day long.”
After three weeks, Smith is still smiling.
“A lot better,” said Smith when asked how his conditioning compares to trading day now. Shout out to the trainers and everyone on the staff. They are always looking to get some work in. After every game, we get a post-game workout – which is new to me. They take time out of their night. So I appreciate it.
“I think I just entered and am myself in terms of my presence,” added the 23-year-old former North Carolina State Guard. “I came in and pointed myself. I feel like I really like everyone here. I feel it has been answered. I just remain a building block for this team and try to lead as much as possible. “
The Pistons hold the NBA’s worst record in the East at 9-24 – still afraid of losing their lottery pick, point guard Killian Hayes, to a serious hip injury. Hayes can return before the end of the season.
On Friday against Sacramento, Smith crashed a monstrous car ride into traffic – something from his college days. When told he hadn’t entered a game in a year, Smith already knew.
“It’s crazy to think it’s been a year,” said Smith. “The last was in Charlotte because it showed up in my Facebook memories. It was a boost for the team. “
Meanwhile, the Knicks are also smiling at the Rose-Smith transaction.
Rose, who wanted to leave Detroit to play with coach Tom Thibodeau again, almost everything has been as advertised in nine games. He was a leader on the floor – and played a better defense than in his first Knicks stint. He has an average of 13.5 points and 4.5 assists.
After playing only two seasons in Detroit. he tries not to get sentimental.
“There’s no thought,” Rose said of his return. “I got over those feelings when I went back to Chicago. That kind of helped me to know it’s a business and understand that you can’t play in a way that’s harmful to the team.
“This is my first time. I don’t talk about it unless someone brings it up. I try to leave that afterwards, just work on my trade, try to teach the boys every day and try to make my mark on the team whenever I can. I can, but I can’t look back. “