Reggie Jackson, Steve Blake both hampered by injuries

“He looks like he knows what he’s doing, and he’s ready to play”, said Van Gundy.

The team announced the injuries Friday.

Jackson is day to day but Blake must clear National Basketball Association concussion protocol before he can return.

Detroit Pistons guard Steve Blake is recovering from a concussion, guard Reggie Jackson has a bruised thigh and center Aaron Baynes has a sore right ankle.

Jackson was acquired the Pistons last season when previous starting point guard Brandon Jennings went down with a season-ending injury.

As reported by MLive’s David Mayo, the shorthanded point guard situation, combined with fatigue from a week of two-a-days (with multiple practices extending over three hours), resulted in a sluggish showing on Friday.

And Johnson, 19, he expects to play well despite his youth. “I think I can play”. Yes, I can. Will I play the one?

The general public will get their first chance to lay eyes on the 2015-16 edition of the Pistons on Saturday, October 3rd, when the Pistons will hold an open practice at the Palace of Auburn Hills at 11am. Jackson will have to prove he is worth that money, but he has shown flashes of being a top point guard and now he will be in Detroit for a stretch after being traded from the Thunder. If I’m not the best or my peers aren’t telling me I’m the best, I’ve got to continue to go and earn that kind of respect. If I’m turning the ball over I don’t need the ball in my hands. Do I want to get into high ball screens? “I’ll either be on the bench or in the corner”. Drummond, Jackson and Kentavious Caldwell-Pope give the team a solid core and adding Johnson could help with depth.

Van Gundy emphasized again that Johnson needs to be better in off-the-ball defense.

“For him to be where he is, as a rookie, four days in, pretty happy”, Van Gundy said.

A 6-foot-7 player with ball-handling skills, strong enough to create space, a good if not picturesque shooter, and a willing rebounder and defender, might fit that job description.