Brown vs. McCallum: Who Will Make the Final Roster?

With starting guard Reggie Jackson out until at least early December with knee tendonitis, point guards Lorenzo Brown and Ray McCallum will have more opportunities to make their case to become the Pistons third point guard then they would otherwise. They've both had some early chances to show what they can do in the first couple preseason games.

McCallum put up five points, four boards and four assists in just over 21 minutes in the loss to Brooklyn. He played well, facilitating the offense and showing prowess on defense. He was able to add scoring, which is a plus for any point guard. His experience showed in his appearance against Brooklyn.

Brown finished with an encouraging nine points and four rebounds in 23 minutes against San Antonio, albeit with poor shooting percentages across the board. He did just as well, maybe even better than McCallum. He was great on defense, as he picked up a steal in the loss. His on ball defense was exceptional, as he stayed with his man throughout the game. He can also push the ball, which is good for a team that can be scary in transition. He did a lot well, but his shooting will need to improve.

Even though neither player has had much time in the NBA, I'd say McCallum has had more success in the league so far, putting up solid numbers for the Kings, Spurs, and Grizzlies. Brown is an NBA journeyman that can never seem to stick on a team for long. But, he does know the playbook better than his competitor because Detroit signed him to a pair of 10-day contracts towards the end of last season, but he never saw the floor during that span.

Both players will have quite a few more chances to prove their worth to Stan Van Gundy, and whoever wins the battle over the next two weeks will become the team's backup playmaker until Reggie Jackson returns. Jackson will be out 6-8 weeks after having a procedure done on not only his knee but thumb as well. It should be a fun battle to watch and we can have faith in Van Gundy and general manager Jeff Bower to make the right choice when it's time to make a decision.

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