The Detroit Pistons were unsure of whether Blake Griffin would play for them in this first round series. Before making his debut in the playoffs for Detroit in game three, Thon Maker was slotted in to fill the void at power forward Griffin was leaving behind.
I had just wrote a rather encouraging piece about Maker, and how well he had played with Andre Drummond and how the length and athleticism of the two made opposing offenses scared to attack inside against them.
Along with his encouraging play next to Drummond during the final stretch of the season, Pistons fans had all heard the stories told by Milwaukee Bucks fans of Playoff Thon.