OMG, they do NOT want to see us in the playoffs!!!

[Oracle]

I wish we could play every game the way we play against Toronto! I know Toronto fans are praying that we get the 6th seed to keep us away away from the Raptors.

However, I know the NBA would love to see this matchup because the games are always close, competitive and thrilling. This was a fantastic game to watch, even if the Pistons had lost, which they tried to do in the end with Blake missing two FT's, but was saved because Leonard missed two right after that to finish any chance the raptors had.

I NEVER thought we had a chance in hell to win the series with Toronto, let alone be able to stick the broom up their arses... a clean sweep! Casey sends Nurse back to nurse off his mommies nursie yet again 

Oh well, we needed this one because it's on to murders row on the road... Good Luck Pistons!

[Oracle]

@Murph: I've had a few sprained ankles in my life, and right after each I thought I was going to be ok the next day. Needless to say, I was out a week and still shaky then

So I was shocked and pleasantly surprised to see him back in the lineup and even happier that he performed so well.

@Wise:  If they make the playoffs I will be giddy, as we all should be. Getting to the playoffs helps the team on a LOT of fronts. It gets people talking about us, it helps in recruiting 2nd tier FA's, but most importantly, it gets guys like Kennard, Thomas, Brown and to a lesser extent Maker playoff experience. On the down side we do get a worse pick, but our financial flexibility lost under SVG will also be returning soon.

Lakers Game: Yes we won, and yes we're in sole possession of 6th seed by the smallest of percentage points, but that was one ugly game in the first half. Both teams didn't look like they belonged in the NBA, horrible play is being kind.

Blake is officially taking games off or he just doesn't have anything left in the tank. For all the complaints about Drummond over the years, he's looking like the All Star at this point, IMO. Reggie is actually looking like a good PG. They really need to limit Blake's minutes, and only play him more in tough games. Unfortunately, for these guys every game appears to be a tough game.

BTW: Galloway was on fire in the 2nd half, but it was Ellington's stroke that was a highlight to me. Ellington's stroke is so sweet and pure it reminds me of when I first saw Middleton's stroke, I knew he was eventually going to be good.

Notes: Tomorrow is a BIG Game! If we land in the 7th seed and Toronto in 2nd seed, we'll face off in the first round of the playoffs. We've had their number so far, but not decisively. They can't afford to face us having lost 3 straight games to us, they'll really want to win one to let us know who's boss. For us, we really care only because we simply can't afford to lose too many games on the road to the playoffs. In short, this is a gut check for both squads!!!

[Oracle]

[Murph]

It's good to see Reggie Jackson back in the line-up and playing reasonably well last night.  I was expecting the worst.  Maybe Arnie Kander applied one of his famed banana poultices.  

Jackson had 20 points, 5 rebounds and 5 assists, and the Pistons righted the ship.  It's nice to have a scheduling win for a change.  LA was playing in the second game of a back to back, on the road, without Lebron.  Hey...I'll take it.

Drummond had another outstanding game with 19 points and 23 rebounds.  Drummond has emerged as the Pistons MVP, since the All Star break.   And Galloway chipped in 23 points off the bench on 8-10 shooting.


With that win, the Pistons move back into a tie for the 6th seed, and the Nets are about to embark on the road trip from hell.   The Nets are about to play away games against Utah, the Clippers, Sacramento, the Lakers, Portland and Philly.  They could realistically lose 5 out of 6 of those games, before they come limping home to play Boston, Milwaukee and Toronto.  

[Murph]

It sounds as if Reggie Jackson is going to be out a few games, if not more.  The initial reports always try to soft sell injuries, so you never really know how long it will be.

The Pistons should try to make the most of a bad situation.  The Pistons should try Bruce Brown as the starting PG.  He played very well at the point in summer league.  Then they could move Kennard into the starting line-up.  I'd like to see the experiment with a starting line-up of:  Brown, Ellington, Kennard, Griffin and Drummond.

That line-up would allow Ish to continue to come off the bench where is he best suited.  And it would make our starting line-up half way normal in terms of height.   And let's see what Mykhailiuk can do at reserve SF, and what Thomas can do at reserve SG.   It's not ideal, but you never know.


What's up with Blake Griffin?  He had another off night last night.  He hasn't been right since the All-Star break.  Is he just exhausted, or is he nicked up?

[WTF]

that my 39 win prediction will end up wrong that's you Good News, However the Bad News is that they'll only beat it by 1 game only to finish the season 40-42.  Still this might get them a 7th or 8th seed  in which many of you will be all giddy about it.

[Oracle]

Disclosure: Down 30 at the start of the 4th quarter, and I'm calling it OVER!

WTF: How do you turn in this type of performance in what should have been two playoff level games? The level of intensity that should have been displayed is totally absent, and it's perplexing.

This is getting real ugly, real quick. I said we were one bad stretch from being out of the playoffs, but I thought it might occur in the west coast trip, not these two games where I, falsely, assumed that we could win or at the very least be competitive.

I don't know what's missing other than heart, everything else seems to be the same. BTW, I also think we get deflated when the 3 ball isn't falling, and we shouldn't, that's the signal to attack the rim, but other than Blake, nobody else is consistently doing that.

[Oracle]

DX/Murph: While I would like to see him get some PT, I'm not willing to fault the coaching staff yet. I don't think they made that trade to not use and develop this kid, but in the drive to the playoffs, I don't know of many coaches who would break up what's working to try something not guaranteed to work. If it cost us games, they'd be damn near run out of town for doing something that radical.

Having said that, my complaint about not playing him is when matchups favor, if not demand that we need the size he has, and that Nets matchup was screaming for more size 1-3. Reggie is fine at PG, not large, but big enough to be ok. I did want more size at the SF position in particular because we're playing with fire with these 6'6 guys unless they have the bulk that Stanley has.

I was hoping he was going to get some minutes in the Nets game because I wouldn't play him or Thomas if they'd been sitting on the bench forever. When he sent them to the G-League, I assumed it was in preparation for minutes, and it probably was, but something happened.

I really didn't see Mykhailiuk getting a lot of minutes this year for obvious reasons. I think he's likely to make his case next year starting with Summer League where we'll all get a good sniff of the goods. Murph, I'm not optimistic about him getting much burn down the stretch unless we've solidified a playoff spot or we're out of the playoffs.

DX, I wouldn't be too hard on the coaching staff, this is a call that can be legitimately made either way and not signal that they aren't 100% committed to developing the kid... I believe they are.

[deusXango]

Interesting article on Rodions Kurucs in the news feed.  I could not have been more impressed with the kid and the way he contained Griffin.  Kurucs was an obscure 40th pick in last year's draft that's beginning to tear it up.


Which leads us to Svi Mykhailiuk.  You never know what you have until you play them.  We very well could have our own obscure Euro star in the making.  I doubt his defense will be anywhere near Kurucs', but based on his summer league highlight reel, I'm guessing he could be an offensive sparkplug.  He seems to be quick and athletic, and he passes well and shoots lights out.  He's also 6'8, and we are size challenged at the wing position, often playing Ellington (6'5), Brown (6'5), Kennard (6'6) or Robinson (6'6) at small forward.

We really need to see what Mykhailiuk can do next season, or even down the stretch this season.  We should not let this kid fade away, without giving him a real shot.  It's just possible he could be a difference maker.

Thanks Murph, for pointing out one of the teams glaring weaknesses...the coaching staff refusing to follow through on the promise of developing the young talent...all we get is Bruce Brown, and that's it? I'm scratching my head over Khyri Thomas, who was the prize 2nd round pick, and rated to be superior to Brown, on both ends of the floor but, not getting anything more than a sniff of PT while Brown has nailed down a spot in the rotation as a starter!

The refusal to play Mykhailiuk, a legit SF, who's a 6' 8" Luke Kennard, that we traded Reggie Bullock, for (arguably our best 3 point shooter) and no other than the great Jerry West, has sung his praises...is it simply because he's a Euro? That'd be a damn shame! If high basketball I.Q.'s mean anything to a team that's dedicated to winning, why are we using the staid "he doesn't play defense" line to discredit a player and deny him an opportunity to perform at the highest level, against the worlds best. Remember, Luke, was branded as a none defender right after he was drafted! Not after his first practice but, right after the draft. False handles tend to stick. Is Weggie, Galloway, Ish, Robinson III, Ellington, or Brown anything more than "one trick ponies?" Svi, can do a little of everything they can do only, he has an extremely high I.Q., and he's the 6' 8" SF we won't utilize.

[Murph]

Interesting article on Rodions Kurucs in the news feed.  I could not have been more impressed with the kid and the way he contained Griffin.  Kurucs was an obscure 40th pick in last year's draft that's beginning to tear it up.


Which leads us to Svi Mykhailiuk.  You never know what you have until you play them.  We very well could have our own obscure Euro star in the making.  I doubt his defense will be anywhere near Kurucs', but based on his summer league highlight reel, I'm guessing he could be an offensive sparkplug.  He seems to be quick and athletic, and he passes well and shoots lights out.  He's also 6'8, and we are size challenged at the wing position, often playing Ellington (6'5), Brown (6'5), Kennard (6'6) or Robinson (6'6) at small forward.

We really need to see what Mykhailiuk can do next season, or even down the stretch this season.  We should not let this kid fade away, without giving him a real shot.  It's just possible he could be a difference maker.

[Oracle]

Murph is right on 2 points. The Pistons seemed totally out of sync from the first tip off, and Brown in addition to not scoring, was a total stumble bum and almost single handedly screwed up in the opening minutes... we never recovered.

His second point was about our weakness being exposed by the young large guards. Here I see things slightly differently.

I see our weakness being at SF, and that ripples through the lineup creating the weakness. I was actually hoping Brown wouldn't play, and here's why.

When Brown starts, we have Ellington at SF, where he's playing out of position, and we have a major size deficit in the 1-3 position. When we start GR3, Ellington can move to SG where he normally plays and is best suited.

The loss of the 6'7 Bullock has lately been no issue offensively, however the loss in size has been a problem, in addition to the loss of Stanley Johnson. Even with Ellington & GR3 starting, we're still undersized, just less so, and a team like the Nets are better suited to expose us.

Having said that, this, IMO, was a coaching loss. Casey has been great, but no coach if perfect. He needed to do 2 things to give the tired Pistons a chance.

1. Alter the starting lineup. He had the perfect excuse if he needed one, that he wanted to give Brown more rest on his ankle, but he did what SVG would do and stick to form, which he rarely does.
2. IMO, he failed to use our biggest strength against the Nets biggest weakness... destroy them with our bigs and Reggie.

Reggie, Blake and Drummond form a trio that can do amazing PnR against the slight Nets front line. They have no answer for either Drummond or Blake rolling to the rim, they just don't have the power. To do that you have to lessen the focus on the 3 point shot, but it also allows the guys shooting 3's much cleaner shots when the Nets collapse to try to defend the PnR.

All in all, I see this game as a big aberration, much as Murph hoped. We aren't likely to make that many mistakes again although it was a bit disturbing.

[Murph]

I went to the game last night.  Not a great game for my only live game of the season.

The Pistons looked sluggish and out of sync from the get-go.  As Don pointed out earlier, the 3 games in 4 days, and 2nd night of a back to back on the road took it's toll.  Thank God Reggie Jackson, or anyone else didn't come up injured.

I have a couple of observations.  The Pistons had absolutely no answer for the Nets stable of guards.  The Nets guards, Russell, LeVert, Dinwiddie and Crabbe ran roughshod over the Pistons.  Those guys are young, quick, athletic and huge.  They average 6'6, and scored a combined 56 points.  

If we are going to keep up with the Nets in the future, we're going to have to bring in big, athletic defensive minded guards, besides Bruce Brown.  This is why I don't think Ish is the long term solution at reserve PG.  Drafting Coby White would be a good start.

Second, if last night's game was any indication, the way to contain Blake Griffin is with a young, quick, active, smaller forward.  Kurucs had Griffin's number.  He never let Griffin go to work.  He had 3 steals against Griffin, which lead to transition baskets on the other end, and he frustrated Griffin all night.

And finally, I think Thon Maker's value to the Pistons is as a defensive specialist and shot blocker.   Like Drummond, he should limit his scoring to the paint, and bag the 3 point shooting.  His 3 blocks last night were one of the few Piston highlights of the game.

Hopefully, this game was just an aberration, due to tired legs and too many games in too few days.

[Oracle]

Choke may be a bit strong, but at halftime they're down 61-35, and I'm pretty sure they aren't coming back from this deficit.

This was likely a scheduling loss, but not a scheduling blowout.

It's important for them to recover some dignity in the 2nd half.

[Oracle]

The recognition and awards will come!

[BallinD]

With the Stones running roughshod over opponents right now I thinks Casey is pushing all the right buttons and the team is all in. Check. The FO appears to have a clue, with a big assist to Arnie et al. Check. What is there for a good fan/poster to do but enjoy the ride. Or worry?

@Oracle, I agree with your analysis and right now it matters more how we play than who we play. Play with Hatred!

So Nets and Heat check are on the horizon as the best possible pre-playoff tests. Well coached, they both hate the Pistons and we hate them. Go Hatred!!

May the best hater Win!

[Oracle]

Strength of schedule(SOS) is almost a nothing burger if you're playing well and fear no one, however, it's also a good data point and view into the focus and determination required to make the former true. In addition, SOS doesn't consider how teams matchup against each other, and what may appear to be a tough matchup could be easier, and what appears to be an easy matchup could be hard.

Here's a look into what's going on, full view here: Remaining Schedule Strength

[lemonpen]

-   Is it possible for a non-All Star to be selected to an All NBA Team.  If Dre continues this pace and the Stones make the post season, could it happen.

-   Kennard entered the draft considered a good shooter, an unwilling defender, and not much else.   Yeah, I think Luke will get at least one scout fired, and maybe a GM too.

-   Murph,  I thought Ish would be traded at the deadline for sure.  Now, I wonder if He may be one of the teams best value players.  I don't expect a pay cut or continuation will retain his services.  The impact that our bench has in the playoffs may be a prime factor in Stefanski's decision.

-   My apologies to Langston Galloway.  The kid is beating the odds as a rotation player in the Association, arriving via the undrafted route.   That is pretty special.

-   Coach of the Year.  Nah, it won't be Casey.  But, one of his recent quotes makes me understand how he became one.   Drummonds offensive surge is apparently no random event.
Excerpt from the Freep:   "Casey has drilled into Drummond’s teammates on the ills of throwing him passes away from the rim. Those passes come less and even when they come, Drummond now passes or immediately gets into a dribble-handoff set.   “He doesn’t try to do something out of the ordinary,” Casey said. “He’s keeping the game simple and that’s helped his efficiency.”"  

-   Early Hole.  A lot of the soft teams we are currently playing allow 20 point comebacks.  Shoot, at our depths we allowed it to happen, and on our floor none the less.  Being confident in our abilities and plan and principles and stuff, is just fine but I seriously doubt a first round opponent will be having it.  I hope we don't have to wake up to that in the form of a playoff L.

-   FYI, the LCA crowds are growing.

[Oracle]

Murph, it's way too early to speculate, so much is in flux and changing.

Boston is 1.5 games out of 3rd and only .5 out of 4th, so 3 through 5 could change radically.

The Pistons don't have that big a cushion, we're one injury or one bad stretch from being out of the playoffs, let alone holding onto the 6th seed. Speaking of injuries, they do have some right now. Zaza is out, Bruce Brown has a sprained ankle, and Reggie almost didn't play with a sprained right thumb.

As they said in Spiderman, with 6th seed comes great responsibility 

[Murph]

So would we rather face the Indiana Pacers in the 1st round without Oladipo, or the 76ers in the 1st round with a ailing Embiid?

The Pacers Oladipo is out for the season, while the 6ers Embiid has missed 12 games with a sore knee, including the last 8 games.  The 6ers are 5-7 in games that he's missed.  Embiid will test the knee tonight against the Pacers.  It's a bad time for Embiid's knee to be acting up again, heading into the playoffs.

I like our chances in the 1st round against the Pacers without Oladipo.  I think we match up well.  

And I think we have a chance in the 1st round against the 6ers, if Embiid is not 100%.

Stay turned.


But today?  Let's whoop ass on the Bulls!

[Sparma]

Couldn't believe they came all the way back yesterday with (a gassed?!) Blake leading the way.

Wouldn't have seriously thought about resigning Ish earlier, but they really seem to have missed him when he was out, and got a boost when he came back. Don't break the bank, but for a decent price (4-5 mil?, even his current 6?), we should bring him back. Unless Kyrie Thomas can step in effectively as PG sub.

I got a call at halftime, my son berating me for introducing him to the pomegranate Pistons kool-aid.  He doesn’t like the bittersweet taste.  But im thinking by the end of the game it was plenty sweet.  This team might be a problem for opponents going forward.  Loving it.  

Like Mantis said in Avengers Infinity Wars: “kicking names and taking ass,” or something like that. LoL

We might just have to resign Ish!?!?

[BallinD]

I got a call at halftime, my son berating me for introducing him to the pomegranate Pistons kool-aid. He doesn’t like the bittersweet taste. But im thinking by the end of the game it was plenty sweet. This team might be a problem for opponents going forward. Loving it.

Like Mantis said in Avengers Infinity Wars: “kicking names and taking ass,” or something like that. LoL

We might just have to resign Ish!?!?

[Oracle]

Our big men are BOTH Elite!

Down 21 points and then the Blake & Drummond show, keyed by the totally underrated Ish Smith.

Can't do this against good teams, but I'm really glad we finally woke up!

[Oracle]

[Oracle]

"Oracle Ballin said it all with his "Pinch Us Please" post." - Don

Absolutely Don, Ballin is speaking for all of us! I just hope we don't take the Bulls lightly, they've been playing really good, and pasted a "L" on the sixers their last outing.

Articles: Two good reads.
1. Andre Drummond is ELITE and proving doubters wrong - Really loved this one because he has the data to back up the claim!
2. Andre Drummond says Blake Griffin is key in giving him confidence - I always said that Drummond needed a vet big man to help him realize his potential. Shaq needed Phil Jackson to motivate him, and this is just the beginning. Blake, the king of bully ball, and don't give a crap about players feelings if he runs them over, is teaching Dre to just use all of that power.

Video: Gores may not be all that bad...

[cool breeze]

[quote="Oracle"]You mentioned two important things.

1. Drummond: Yes he hit some soft shots, but the one that had me jumping up and down was that hook shot over Towns. The hook shot is one of the most potent in basketball because it's almost undefendable. If Dre can get that shot going, he'll be a monster!

2. Kennard: I don't think he knows just how good he can be yet! It was Kennard that keyed the comeback with his stellar play. This kid can stroke it from anywhere, but he's also a good ball handler, passer and playmaker, all of which was on display tonight. He won't make it this year, but it's going to be damn near impossible to keep him out of the starting lineup next year, he's earning it!

Very impressive blowout win vs Minny after being down 16 early.  A fluid O for much of the game, including nice inside-outside variety.

AD fantastic.  He not only hit his FTs, but his soft shots made me wonder if he's really figured it out (for a night, at least).

This version of Kennard is lethal, and seems to pull the team together.

Blake with a modest statistical night; good to see him looking for AD, as he did early in his time in Detroit.

Ish proving his value.

A bunch of others pitching in, including Glenn Robinsion (!!) and Galloway.

Oracle Ballin said it all with his "Pinch Us Please" post. I took some notes in the first quarter and paused my DVR at the 6:21 mark in the 1st quarter. A lot of negative stuff took place before that point in the game. Both Blake and Brown are standing low down in the paint after Blake fouled Towns after his missed first shot and rebound and 2nd miss. Both Brown and Griffin look out and stare at AD who had not made it to the free throw line yet. In fact AD was standing and watching both players and Reggie Jackson struggle to defend Towns and rebound the basketball. Several defensive possessions before that Griffin had been forced to sprint back and defend Towns because of AD's lack of engagement. Blake also drove in the paint and made a great bounce pass to AD 1 foot from the basket. No defender attempted to block AD's shot. But AD decided not to dunk and instead completely missed the rim with his off the board miss to the opposite side where Towns grabbed the rebound. It appeared that AD had reverted to his lack of engagement past habits. We hadn't seen that in a long time from him. But wouldn't you know it, just before the buzzer blew, AD launched a long 3 point shot that somehow went into the basket. The Pistons were still way behind but the 2nd unit with an amazing show of will led by Ish Smith and Luke Kennard with good paint defense by Thon Maker, managed to make a great comeback in there 2nd quarter. What happened at halftime will remain in the locker room but you can bet that something big happened.

This team has a leader and great team chemistry at this point in time. I hope they keep it. But Andre Drummond played with heart and with his head for the entire 2nd half of that game. How exciting to witness that happen. When players turn from ugly to sweet, how can fans not appreciate the growth in character? Fantastic job AD and the rest of the crew to blow out a team that had been kicking your asses early on.

But the next 3 games will be a real test of will power for this team. Three games in four nights with the last game being a back to back against the Nets is insane and the NBA front office should be flogged for creating such a schedule. Plus the Pistons have to travel for two out of three games. I don't care who you are playing, it is very difficult to have any timing playing three NBA games in four nights while throwing in the traveling strain that causes all kinds of negative things to your body. It is a good thing that the Pistons are flying high and have a lot of confidence. Maybe Detroit can win 2 out of 3. Concentrate on beating up Chicago in the first game at Chicago. If that happens they should get the next game against them played in Detroit. The Nets have had the Pistons number so far but who knows what can happen if this winning streak keeps going?

Great win Piston players! Good coaching too. Great job by Glen Robinson and Galloway.

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