20-year old point guard Brandon Knight has been getting a lot of P.T. so far this year due to Rodney Stuckey’s injury, and he’s making the most of it. Knight has played in 10 games (4 starts) for the Pistons so far this year and he is averaging 28.6 minutes, 11.4 points, 3.5 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. The Pistons really like what they are seeing out of Knight, so he will likely get his fair share of P.T. even after Stuckey returns to action. 25-year old power forward Vernon Macklin hasn’t played much for the Pistons so far this year. He has played in 6 games (0 starts) for the Pistons so far this year and he is averaging 4.3 minutes, 1.2 points and 0.2 rebounds per game.

20-year old rookie point guard Brandon Knight is off to an outstanding start to his career for the Pistons. In his first 2 games (0 starts), Knight is averaging 22.5 minutes, 16.0 points, 1.0 rebound, 3.0 assists and 1.5 steals per game. He is shooting 59.1% from the floor (13 of 22) and 54.5% (6 for 11) from three point range so far this year. It’s only a matter of time until Knight bumps Ben Gordon or Rodney Stuckey to the bench if he keeps playing like he is right now.

20-year old rookie PF/C Greg Monroe was really solid for the Pistons last year. He played in 80 games (48 starts) for the Pistons last season and he averaged 27.8 minutes, 9.4 points, 7.5 rebounds, 1.3 assists and 1.2 blocked shots per game. Monroe shot 55.1% from the floor for the Pistons but most of his shots came from in tight to the basket. Monroe does need to improve at the free throw line as he only hit 62.2% from the free throw line and that isn’t going to cut it. I look for Monroe to work to improve both his range on his jumper and his free throw shooting in the off-season. That’s just nitpicking as he is already a fine player. He could develop into a player who averages a double-double as early as the 2011-12 season.

20-year old center Greg Monroe has really excelled since moving into the starting lineup for the Pistons. In his last five games, Monroe is averaging 37.2 minutes, 17.2 points, 11.8 rebounds, 2.0 assists and 2.0 steals per game on 61.3% shooting from the floor. He has now played in 61 games (29 starts) so far this year for the Pistons and he is averaging 26.3 minutes, 8.3 points, 6.9 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 1.0 steal per game. Monroe is shooting 54% from the floor which is outstanding but only 57% from the free throw line. With most of Monroe’s shots coming from in close, he’s going to have to improve his free throwing shooting or opposing teams are really going to start hacking him. The Pistons finally have a player to build around in Monroe who is a pretty darn good basketball player already.

Even if they Pistons have to hurt Ben Wallace’s feelings, they need to bring him off the bench to back up 22-year old rookie center Greg Monroe. In his last three games, Monroe is averaging 34.7 minutes, 13.3 points, 11.7 rebounds, 1.0 assist and 2.3 steals per game. Monroe has now played in 34 games (3 starts) for the Pistons so far this year and he is averaging 20.1 minutes, 5.4 points, 5.4 rebounds and 0.8 assists per game. At 12-25 on the season, the Pistons need to start playing the younger guys and start looking to the future. That should start with Greg Monroe replacing Ben Wallace as the starting center and the sooner the Pistons make that move…..the better.