Brandon Jennings Ready to Battle for Minutes in Detroit

Following his D-League debut, during which he scored 11 points on 4-of-9 shooting and twelve assists, Brandon Jennings said he’s ready to compete for playing time on the Detroit Pistons’ second unit.

Head coach Stan Van Gundy won’t guarantee the 25-year-old minutes following an 11-month layoff due to an Achilles tendon rupture.

Jennings sounds prepared to compete with veteran guard Steve Blake for burn.

Per the Detroit Free Press:

And one day after his first action in 11 months — Saturday night’s Development League stint with the Pistons’ affiliate in Grand Rapids — Jennings said he’s cool with competition. […] “If I’ve got to earn my second spot, then let’s practice for it,” Jennings said Sunday after practicing with the Pistons. “Let’s go play for a spot. I’m with it. I’m up for it.”

 

Quietly, veteran Steve Blake has played well since a poor start. When starting point guard Reggie Jackson was plagued by foul trouble in the first half of Friday night’s four-overtime victory at Chicago, Blake did a great job keeping the team afloat. […] He is shooting 38% from three-point range since a 1-for-11 start to the season. And the team has won eight of 11 games.

 

“I don’t think at this point I would play him ahead of Steve,” Van Gundy said.