Detroit Pistons big-man Chris Wilcox has mostly been a forgotten man this season, contributing about as much to the team as you. Which isn’t a lot. Unless you buy Pistons tickets, or gear, or something. Then it’s probably a tie.
Anyway, the 14-25 Pistons have been terrible this season, though constant injuries to key players is a very legitimate excuse. But they’ve rattled off several wins in a row, and Wilcox has helped.
Vince Ellis of the Detroit Free Press reports:
After Wilcox, an eight-year veteran power forward, was benched for 13 of the first 26 games, it looked as if he wouldn’t have an impact on this season.
But Wilcox has helped the Pistons to a 3-1 record since coach John Kuester put him in the starting lineup.
And with a 14-point, 10-rebound effort in Saturday night’s victory over the Knicks, Wilcox proved that his athleticism and shooting touch could be a boon to the Pistons the rest of the season.
“I thought in the third period he did some great things,” Kuester said. “Playing the amount of minutes (16) and him giving us that kind of energy … that’s awfully impressive.”
For the season, Wilcox is averaging 4.9 points and 3.6 rebounds in 13.5 minutes per game. His stats are barely better than that in the three recent wins, but he’s hustled and helped the squad.
