Alright, Detroit. We’re headed into Game 2, and the injury report is short—but loud. Just one name, but it’s the guy even Karl-Anthony Towns couldn’t budge. Isaiah “Beef Stew” Stewart.

Now, if you missed Saturday’s 123-112 loss to the Knicks, first off, lucky you—but Stew exited that one with 9:06 left in the fourth, hobbling like he just stepped on an upturned Lego. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff gave us the ol’ classic post-game shoulder shrug: “We’ll see,” he said about Stewart’s status heading into Monday.

Even With Isaiah Stewart, the Knicks Ate—So What’s the Plan Now?

Let’s not sugarcoat it—’Beef Stew’ looked cooked on Saturday. In 19 minutes, he posted 2 points, 5 boards, and 2 blocks, and then Bickerstaff made the call, “It’s tough. He means so much to us and there’s so many things that he can do. At some point my choice was to protect him and I just thought that was the right decision.”

That’s coach-speak for he didn’t look right, and I didn’t want to risk making it worse.

Now, sure, Stewart’s box score won’t pop on a highlight reel, but real ones know—he’s the muscle. He’s the guy doing all the dirty work that doesn’t show up in fantasy stats. But even with him on the floor, the Knicks still walked out of Game 1 feeling like they owned Little Caesars Arena. Whether Stewart suits up or not, Detroit’s real issue is figuring out how to stop Jalen Brunson from turning every possession into a mixtape.

Jalen Duren will get the bulk of the frontcourt load now, and look, he’s been solid—11.9 and 10.4 on the season, plenty of bounce, good instincts. But in a playoff environment against a team like New York? That’s a lot on a 21-year-old’s plate. Tolu Smith might get some action, too. And if that sentence makes you nervous… well, welcome to the club.

Can This Detroit Pistons Depth Chart Keep Game 2 Alive Without Isaiah Stewart?

Let’s take a look at where Detroit can actually hang with New York—because believe it or not, there are a few spots.

The Pistons are averaging 115.5 points per game—just a smidge behind the Knicks’ 115.8—and they’ve got a +156 scoring differential on the year. Not bad for a squad that’s spent most of the season as a League Pass sleeper pick. Offensively, they’re doing fine—15th in points per 100—but defensively? They’re sneaky good, top 10 in points allowed per 100 possessions. Yeah. Defensively. Detroit. We said it.

They also win the rebound battle by +2.3 on average, snagging 44.8 boards per game compared to the Knicks’ 42.6. That’s not nothing—especially when Jalen Duren’s out here treating missed shots like personal insults.

Now, to be fair, New York’s got the polish. Better late-game execution, more composure, and a tighter three-point game—36.9% to Detroit’s 36.2%. MSG’s been a fortress this year too, with the Knicks putting up 117.5 at home while locking teams down to just 110.8. That’s some real “rookie mistake? Thanks, we’ll take it from here” energy.

But let’s not pretend the Pistons don’t have dogs in this fight. Detroit’s rotation has some heat, at least when the vibes are right.

Look, we know Stew is iffy. But the next-man-up vibes are already hitting. Tobias Harris dropped 25 and 6 like it was 2018 again. Dennis Schroder had 20 points, 4 boards, and a couple dimes, bouncing around like he forgot he wasn’t still hooping for Germany. Cade Cunningham? Just casually posted 21-12-6—all while being the only guy in the arena who didn’t blink when Brunson started heating up. And Tim Hardaway Jr.? 19 points and the greenest light since prime J.R. Smith.

That’s the foundation. That’s what the Pistons are leaning on in Game 2.

And while Duren’s gonna carry the load down low, we might even get a little cameo from Paul Reed or a fingers-crossed Isaiah Stewart. If not, someone’s gotta throw a body at Mitchell Robinson, because giving him free access to the glass is a death wish.

So yeah—Stewart sitting hurts. But this thing was always going to be bigger than just one dude. What it boils down to is this: can the Pistons keep up the hustle and steal one in the Garden? Or is this another “they fought hard but couldn’t finish” kind of script?

You tell us—are you rocking with Detroit’s depth? Or is New York just two chess moves ahead? Either way… we’ll “see,” right, coach?