Ouch

That didn't take long. In just one exhibition game, the Pistons lost two players to injury - Jonas Jerebko and Terrico White.

White didn't figure to gain much burn this season anyway, but Jerebko was a starter. He suffered a torn achilles tendon and will miss six months. This is a big blow to both the Pistons and Jerebko. Even if Jerebko returns this season, will he be the same player or will Jerebko become the next Elton Brand?

Jerebko's injury does open the door for either Charlie Villanueva or Greg Monroe. One of those two power forwards will likely start in Jerebko's absence. My hope is that the Pistons - who are going nowhere anyway - use this season to see what they've got in their youngsters. The Pistons rarely operate that way, though, and will more likely plop a veteran into that spot. It would behoove the team, in the long run, to develop Greg Monroe. What better way to learn than to get some meaningful minutes as a rookie?

The same is true for Austin Daye. The kid obviously worked on his game in the offseason because he came into the rookie summer league with all guns blazing. He was - far and away - the Pistons' best player. He even fared well last night against the Heat. So the kid is producing. But the problem is that he's got Tayshaun Prince and now Tracy McGrady ahead of him in the pecking order. Why did Joe D sign McGrady again? Daye needs minutes. Perhaps Joe is just biding his time before McGrady injures himself again.