If Detroit sports fans love anything, it’s a great role player.
The city’s sports identity is basically built on guys who weren’t flashy, weren’t chasing headlines, and just showed up and did the work.
The Red Wings had Darren McCarty. The Lions had Chris Spielman. The Tigers had Don Kelly. The Pistons have had a ton, too, with guys like John Salley, Lindsey Hunter and Corliss Williamson.
If this season keeps trending toward something magical, Javonte Green may soon earn a spot on that list.
Monday night’s win over the Celtics was a perfect snapshot of what Green gives the Pistons. With Cade Cunningham in foul trouble and Boston surging late, Green checked in and flipped the script — steadying Detroit, making the right plays and helping slam the door.
He nailed a three to push the lead to 8 — after Boston cut it to 3 on the foul that send Cade to the bench — and put an exclamation point on his stint with the most exciting play of the game on this dunk after a steal:
Outside of Cade’s smoooooooth spin-to-stepback jumper that iced the game, this may have been the play of the game. Every 5-man lineup Green was part of last night had a +/- in the green. He scored just 8 points, but you could feel his impact. It’s the kind of shit that ignites a team and helps shift momentum all on its own.
That’s kind of becoming Green’s M.O. with the Pistons.
A late-summer signing, Green felt like just a depth piece. An emergency body in case injuries struck, but one who fit the identity — a gritty, defense-first dawg with some attitude.
Initially, that’s what he was. The Pistons battled a plethora of injuries early on, and as they sprinted to 13-straight wins, Green played a huge part. For six games in November, he was a key contributor, starting three games and playing big minutes while averaging 12.7 points, 5.5 rebounds and 2 stocks per game on 47% shooting.
The Pistons won all six games, and he made it extremely hard for J.B. Bickerstaff to take him out of the rotation.
Green isn’t the type of guy who will lead you to the promise land. He’s only averaging 6.7 points per game and he’s a limited offensive player. On a bad team, he’s not this guy. But on a good (maybe great) one, he is.
Green won’t single-handedly win a game. But his defense and athleticism — with the occasional 3-pointer — can help shift a game in your favor. He’s the kind of Swiss Army Knife you want in your back pocket, the kind of disruptor you need in the playoffs.
I would not be surprised if, come April, the Pistons win a playoff game simply because Green came in and gave them a huge boost in the second half that may have been getting away from them.
He’s just that kind of guy, and in Detroit, there’s always a home for one.
