Central Notes: Beauchamp, Jackson, Haliburton, Thompson, Ivey

With Jae Crowder out approximately eight weeks due to an adductor and abdominal tear, Bucks coach Adrian Griffin confirmed that MarJon Beauchamp and rookie Andre Jackson Jr. would have expanded roles, according to Eric Nehm of The Athletic.

“I just think, starting with MarJon, he’s done a terrific job on both sides of the ball. Really pleased,” Griffin said. “I’m a defense-first coach, so I just like his athleticism, his length. … He can guard multiple positions. And then offensively, he’s more athletic than what people may think. He’s a strong player. He can get to the rim and finish above the rim and then he’s a capable 3-point shooter.”

“And then I love what I see out of ‘Dre. I think the most important thing with ‘Dre is his competitive spirit,” Griffin added. “He gets out there and he flies around. He’s gonna make some rookie mistakes. Last game, he stepped out of bounds and stuff like that … So, there’s going to be a learning curve with him, but I feel good with him on the floor.”

We have more from the Central Division:

• Pacers star Tyrese Haliburton says he has no qualms about lobbying free agents to join him in Indiana, he told Rob Mahoney of The Ringer. “I play a style of basketball that people want to play,” said Haliburton, who signed a max five-year extension over the summer. “I think that’s part of the reason why they signed me to the deal they signed me to. I’ve got long-term stability here because they know that I can help bring people here—not only with who I am as a basketball player, but who I am as a person.”
• Pistons general manager Troy Weaver and coach Monty Williams have discussed using rookie Ausar Thompson in more pick-and-rolls but don’t want to overload him with too many responsibilities at this stage, Keith Langlois of Pistons.com writes. Thompson is regularly assigned the opposition’s top scorer and is also relied upon for his rebounding skills. “I told him I trust him because of the work he puts in,” Williams said. “He doesn’t run from any situation. Sometimes I get too far ahead when I put too much on his plate, so expanding him right now is not at the forefront because he does have a lot on his plate.”
• Pistons guard Jaden Ivey missed four games due to an illness and there were some whispers on social media that Ivey’s absence had more to do with him losing his starting job. Ivey refuted that notion after returning to action against Chicago on Sunday, Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press relays. “I thank the trainers for helping me get back, because I was really, really struggling,” Ivey said of the viral infection. “I could barely even watch TV. I had some symptoms going that were crazy, some symptoms that I’d never really experienced before ever. I’m back on my feet now.”