LMAO!!!!!!

[WTF]

Yes, congratulations on the Dems taking back the House.  Traditionally, this country works much better with a divided government.

My hope is that House Dems will work with the Senate and White House to come up with serious compromise solutions on difficult issues such as deficit reduction, immigration reform and health care reform.

My hope is that the Dems will take their newly won responsibilities seriously, and will not continue with their mindless resist movement, investigations and impeachment proceedings that benefit no one.

Not going to happen and if it wasn't for the voter depression they would have the Senate as well.  You know things could work better and be better with a divided government. Not under this WH will it ever work and the sooner he's gone the better for both sides.

Really this wasn't about politics and what side of the fence you're standing on, doing the right thing means something, acting the right way means something, and truth means something.    There shouldn't be a debate about these things period no matter what side you're on.  A child knows the difference of right and wrong, for the life of me I can't understand grown ups that don't or they do understand and just don't care.

This is all about his behavior, there was nothing wrong with wanting something different but different needed to be better not worse.  There were things starting with behavior,  but he needs to buck the system at every turn. he should have gave up his tax information,  he needed to stop lying,  if he's innocent then let the investigation take its proper course,  stop moaning about the media.   

If he actually took the responsibility of running country seriously people might give him a chance, but he can't.  No he needs impeaching just based on his behavior period.  

You can't debate right and wrong, there are not gray areas it's one of the other no matter where you're standing.

[Murph]

Yes, congratulations on the Dems taking back the House.  Traditionally, this country works much better with a divided government.

My hope is that House Dems will work with the Senate and White House to come up with serious compromise solutions on difficult issues such as deficit reduction, immigration reform and health care reform.

My hope is that the Dems will take their newly won responsibilities seriously, and will not continue with their mindless resist movement, investigations and impeachment proceedings that benefit no one.

[WTF]

Okay I promise not to drag this off topic into a long debate but    TOLD YOU SO!!!!!  HA HA!!!!! LMAO!!!!!   YES!!!!! OUI!!!!
Si!!!!!! Wi!!!!!!! haa!!!! Ae!!!!!!   ja!!!!! Yebo!!!!!!

[Murph]

Don...the Pistons will have a little flexibility on the margins with their salary cap next year.  Ish, Bullock, Calderone, Zaza and Ellenson all come off the books next year.  At this point, of those players, I only see Zaza as a guy we really need to bring back ($3 million?).  That should give the Pistons enough flexibility to give Johnson the qualifying offer of $5 million,  pick up GRIII's option of $4 million, and sign our 1st round pick ($3 million?).

[WTF]

Seems the word "If" always precludes some forms of ready made excuses for failure. If this or that is almost as common as much of the analytical bs used to pump up players on this team regardless to the accuracy of the eye test.  

I'm not saying that using the word if is bad just perhaps the if's that are being proposed most of the time.  I remember our ifs being regulated to maybe a couple of thing example what if we had a single player or implement a certain scheme.  These things were minimum at best but today if seem to encompass an entire organization from owner to management to player to dam near what color uniform the players should wear.  

This team will not win until it gets back to doing things in a traditional manner,  it needs to get back to it's roots of becoming a championship franchise again and stop looking for a new way of doing things.  Funny that we can sit and watch something that worked for decades and suddenly decide that this new way is better.  

This team throws **** at the wall and hope it sticks,  the 20 game rule was in place for the team to find its footing not to watch an indecisive coach flip the roster 10 different times.  I don't like Casey or any coach that don't have his roster figured out before the season starts, as much as I don't think SJ should start he should have been given 20 games before you yanked him.

[cool breeze]

Luckily I maintained control of my bowels 

Reggie Jackson is 5th in the league in clutch points.

Drummond was the BEST 3 point shooter in the game, shooting 100%

Stanley Johnson... finds his Johnson to the tune of 13 points 6 boards and 3 assists.

But it was the bench that rallied them with some really good ball movement. Calderon didn't score, but his impact was bigger than his stat sheet.

Not a great game, but a much needed win!

Great job Oracle especially mentioning the impact of Calderon. In my post today I mentioned the fact that there are too many players on this team who are not complete basketball players. The Piston front office wants shooters only nobody else needs to apply for a job. The money has been spent thanks to SVG and Tom Gores. But for a little bit of money the Pistons secured the rights to Jose Calderon which was really cool. Calderon really moves his feet well on defense and knows how to run an offense unlike the two point guards ahead of him. I just wish he were younger so the coach could use him for more minutes. The pure insanity of playing Jackson and Smith at the same time should get Casey fired. Opposing teams are licking their chops waiting for that combination to arrive on the hardwood. Adding Galloway makes with those two turns the Pistons into a PT Barnum side show. Calderon needs to find the Fountain of youth and beg the coach for more minutes but this coach is playing the players with the highest salaries. Maybe he is being told to do that by the Piston Front office and us fans can only expect to see Calderon occasionally when there is a full moon. Who knows how player combinations are being decided. Are they putting names in a hat? Got to have a sense of humor because Stanley Johnson says everyone is too serious.

[cool breeze]

That was a very nice come from behind win last night on the road.  The 2nd unit kept the Pistons in the game all night, particularly Stanley Johnson who had his best game of the season.   I really believe this is Stanley's best role.  He needs to come off the bench and provide energy and defense and make opportunistic baskets.  

If SJ can continue to play like this off the bench, I would definitely make him a qualifying offer and bring him back next year.  This is exactly the kind of game we need out of him on a consistent basis.

Galloway had another excellent game offensively off the bench.  

Drummond continues to play well and put up monster numbers.  Now if we could just get Reggie Bullock going offensively, or get Kennard healthy and in the starting lineup, we'd be in good shape.

Murph do the Pistons have the financial room to make a qualifying offer to Johnson? I am not impressed with this win at all. The Magic had the Pistons by the balls when they spread the floor and went directly at Jackson, Galloway, Bullock, Smith, and Robinson. Of those 5 players Robinson is the best defender but his weakness has always been on the defensive end even in college. Did you notice the size difference in this game when Smith, Galloway and Jackson were playing? This head coach is banking on players that cannot stop dribble penetration with any guard in the NBA. How can he play several of them together and be thinking they can make it up on the offensive end? How dumb is that?

While Johnson is smarter relating to playing defense, passing the ball, recognizing situations then the five players that I have mentioned above, I am greatly disappointed in him. Johnson is not the same type of player he was at a much younger age. He was more serious as a younger guy and was serious about winning games and doing whatever was necessary to win. I just do not see that in him anymore. He must be hanging out with a different group of people. But his Mother would not be happy to see him now as a basketball player at least. Last night after the game, Johnson was interviewed and stated that people are too serious. You need to have fun. I can't imagine that he would ever say such a thing. I paid to watch Johnson and his teammates play and it appears that I want them to win more then they do. It is not always about having fun. Opposing players are kicking the Pistons asses on most nights. Orlando should have won last night but missed wide open looks and were careless with the basketball. It wasn't as if the Pistons played great.

Remember when Zeke was a rookie and had a heart to heart talk with his teammates in the locker room at half time being pissed off with his teammates attitude at the time? Well I just read some quotes from rookie DeAndre Ayton with the Suns in the paper. Ayton is finding his way as a rookie as a big man going up against much older and stronger players now. He is still getting a lot of double doubles but his team is losing. Here are some of the quotes.

"I'm Tired of the talk that it's early always saying it's too early, we're a young team. I'm tired of that talk. The only thing you can possibly do is try to win. That's our mentality. Win, Win, Win. I was speaking to "Book". I'm like we need to take over. Let's start taking over. Let's really do it. We're not in training camp anymore. Let's really show the world what we can do." Ayton said after the Suns loss that "the effort and focus was not there". He went on to say that the Suns can be a much better team with improved chemistry which he identified as improved chemistry which starts with being honest with his teammates about what they're doing right, and wrong. What is cool with Ayton is that he is thinking about the details or the method needed to success. Ayton has an extremely high basketball IQ as Shaq pointed out a year ago. He has all the tools like Zeke had to become a great player. But both of these guys are only happy when their team wins. Ayton finished his interview saying by saying "we've got to really sit down and talk to each other and look each other in the eye and see who got our back in battle. That's it. It's more than basketball."

So Ayton is serious as hell and is already scoring well, rebounding well and blocking his share of shots yet he is very pissed off. Nobody expects a lot from Ayton this season because he is a rookie. Nobody expected much from the small tiger named Isiah Thomas. We fans got lucky. Now we have players who have never been willing to learn how to play defense in their lives. They are all specialists who specialize in shooting long jump shots. They can't play well in any other facet of the game. Johnson used to be a player who hated to win. He was serious as hell and mad as hell when his team lost and they didn't lose often. Now it appears that Johnson has adjusted his mindset to accept defeat and is just looking to have fun. I see it though because this coach is a fun guy who loves to throw out the basketball and let his players get away with murder. There is very little discipline relating to floor spacing, player movement, etc on offense and the Piston's defense is pitiful. One example of a stupid possession was when Blake Griffin had the ball after giving up his dribble on the top of the key. He had Johnson on the left side wing with nobody guarding him. AD was on the opposite low block waiting for Blake to pass the ball to Johnson so he could move to the strong side low block and get a pass for an easy basket being he had sealed off his defender. Instead our $32 million dollar a year stud with binders on passed the ball across court to Galloway on the baseline. Langston of course shot the 3 ball and missed and Orlando was quickly in transition with Blake sucking hind tit. Who can imagine how dumb this team can be at times? I just wish that I hadn't spent the money to watch this nonsense.

The new NBA is showtime entertainment not basketball unless you watch Golden State and a few other teams play. The rest of the teams suck. Most teams give a weak defensive effort and turn the ball over a lot on offense while shooting the 3 ball instead or working hard to in the half court offense. This is something that the players must have dreamed up to make things easier on their bodies. Defenders cannot defend anymore even if they are capable defenders. If the players are not taking things very serious then why should anyone spend the money or their time to watch these meaningless games? Maybe the reason is that there are a few young players like DeAndre Ayton who are serious and want to be able to get to the point that their bodies will tolerate the stress it takes to play all out to win at all cost.

With that said, Andre Drummond gave a great effort last night and the game before that. He is not the sharpest tool in the shed yet but I see improvement in his mindset. But the overall team chemistry is not a winning type of chemistry. You can't beat a dead horse though. This team just does not have enough high end players to can compete physically or mentally with the above average teams in the league. How it got to this point is insane. How could the owner and front office acquire so many players who play the same way and lack the ability to become complete basketball players? You win by selecting the top talent in the draft. Then you develop those players. You don't win unless you get very lucky when you draft in the 7th to 20th position in the draft. Expectations by fans are too high for this group especially when the players do not have a winning type of mindset to begin with. I was wondering who turned off the game in the first quarter when the Pistons looked like team that plays pick up games at the YMCA. Did I say that the coaching sucks and the head coach tolerates his team playing only one side of the court as long as they launch a lot of 3 point shots contested or uncontested. It doesn't really matter does it? And who cares about the turnovers either. Just have fun guys.

[lemonpen]

Here's the relevant description I found: "Clutch Time:  During the 4th quarter or overtime, with less than five minutes remaining, and neither team ahead by more than five points."

I take it that's about a total, i.e., Reggie is number 5 in total number of points scored under those conditions.  

I'm not doubting that Reggie's #5 in total clutch points, but I'm not following why efficiency wouldn't matter, if that's what you're asserting.  I'd like to know what %, not just the total.  In addition, I'd like to know how x's large total in clutch situations affects the performance of the rest of the team.  Is x's large clutch total elevating the team or does it come at the expense of team performance?  In Reggie's case, I'd say both happen.  Tonight, it was the good version of clutch.  Rates and context matter, in addition to totals.

Still, that could be a misleading stat if he gets really high usage down the stretch, as he often does (although less now than in the past). Is he an efficient clutch scorer? Sometimes, sometimes not. 

I think you misunderstand what Clutch means in sports. Efficiency has absolutely nothing to do with clutch.

You can be 0 for a million, but if you hit a clutch shot, it's a clutch shot.

…..“Efficient” “Clutch” Scorer…..

IMO that’s a redundant phrase.  I don’t believe there can be an inefficient “clutch” scorer, or they simply aren’t clutch.  
The sole criteria for clutchness is being able to deliver,
(a) over and over in a single “clutch time” and/or,
(b) being counted on to deliver clutch time after clutch time.

Conversely, clutch players don’t diminish teamwork, they elevate it by carrying the load for the moment, thus unburdening their team.   ie Michael Jordan’s legendary 4th quarter scoring.    In those moments the other guys eagerly work their rear-ends off to help Mr. Clutch get the best opportunity possible.

[Murph]

That was a very nice come from behind win last night on the road.  The 2nd unit kept the Pistons in the game all night, particularly Stanley Johnson who had his best game of the season.   I really believe this is Stanley's best role.  He needs to come off the bench and provide energy and defense and make opportunistic baskets.  

If SJ can continue to play like this off the bench, I would definitely make him a qualifying offer and bring him back next year.  This is exactly the kind of game we need out of him on a consistent basis.

Galloway had another excellent game offensively off the bench.  

Drummond continues to play well and put up monster numbers.  Now if we could just get Reggie Bullock going offensively, or get Kennard healthy and in the starting lineup, we'd be in good shape.

[Oracle]

You're smart and you try to be accurate, I just feel that you're over thinking this one.

I would go further in that definition by saying that it isn't a clutch shot unless it results in a win.

In my world nothing else matters when you hit the clutch shot unless you're one to quibble with winning.

To be more accurate, it could be a clutch defensive play, a clutch block, etc. Clutch players do it in many different ways.

To be honest, I'm just glad to have something good to say about these guys, and I absolutely loved how you took the game comments I made and added the detail about Drummond who has been taking a lot of incoming lately!

[Sparma]

Here's the relevant description I found: "Clutch Time: During the 4th quarter or overtime, with less than five minutes remaining, and neither team ahead by more than five points."

I take it that's about a total, i.e., Reggie is number 5 in total number of points scored under those conditions.

I'm not doubting that Reggie's #5 in total clutch points, but I'm not following why efficiency wouldn't matter, if that's what you're asserting. I'd like to know what %, not just the total. In addition, I'd like to know how x's large total in clutch situations affects the performance of the rest of the team. Is x's large clutch total elevating the team or does it come at the expense of team performance? In Reggie's case, I'd say both happen. Tonight, it was the good version of clutch. Rates and context matter, in addition to totals.

Still, that could be a misleading stat if he gets really high usage down the stretch, as he often does (although less now than in the past). Is he an efficient clutch scorer? Sometimes, sometimes not. 

I think you misunderstand what Clutch means in sports. Efficiency has absolutely nothing to do with clutch.

You can be 0 for a million, but if you hit a clutch shot, it's a clutch shot.

[Oracle]

Still, that could be a misleading stat if he gets really high usage down the stretch, as he often does (although less now than in the past). Is he an efficient clutch scorer? Sometimes, sometimes not. 

I think you misunderstand what Clutch means in sports. Efficiency has absolutely nothing to do with clutch.

You can be 0 for a million, but if you hit a clutch shot, it's a clutch shot.

[Sparma]

Watched the last 5 minutes+.

Lots of good plays after Orlando pulled to within one.

Funny to see Augustin still doing his thing, with a nice alley oop to Gordon.

Drummond played big down the stretch: a) outstanding block on Gordon who looked certain to bring the Magic back within one on a thunder dunk, b) bothering Vucevic into a turnover (no stat there, just good D!), c) intercepting the ball, d) with pressure against him on O getting an astute pass off to Reggie for the easy score.

I too heard that Reggie ranks high (#5) in clutch points. He played very well down the stretch tonight. Still, that could be a misleading stat if he gets really high usage down the stretch, as he often does (although less now than in the past). Is he an efficient clutch scorer? Sometimes, sometimes not.

We looked effective on O at the end, also with Blake getting a nice pass off to Robinson inside.

[Oracle]

Luckily I maintained control of my bowels 

Reggie Jackson is 5th in the league in clutch points.

Drummond was the BEST 3 point shooter in the game, shooting 100%

Stanley Johnson... finds his Johnson to the tune of 13 points 6 boards and 3 assists.

But it was the bench that rallied them with some really good ball movement. Calderon didn't score, but his impact was bigger than his stat sheet.

Not a great game, but a much needed win!

[Oracle]

I think everyone that has concerns are correct that there are many problems. I feel for Casey because he's inherited a poorly constructed roster, but I disagree that this roster isn't talented.

I also think that while it's not too early to find fault and observe the issues, it is too early to come to too many sweeping conclusions. Everybody is different, but I'm going to give them 20 games to right this ship.

That doesn't mean I'm not going to call out the mistakes and issues as I see them, but a new coach taking over a flawed roster kind of begs for a fair shot to get some things right.

We all think the things he's tried don't make sense for this roster, but if I'm him, I have to try to see where I'm at and for the sake of having buy in from the team, he needs to appear to give players a fair shot to perform.

I do confess confusion about Stanley Johnson. He talked him up so much as everything except a great 3 point shooter, then had him doing the thing he's worst at 90% of the time.

Management Rule 101: Don't put your people in a position to fail!

[Sparma]

BallinD, your final line is the bottom line: "because without a talent infusion, we are going nowhere fast" And I agree that Bullock and Kennard can help.

I still believe that Stanley J can develop into a solid rotation player, but I'm really doubting it's going to happen here. He has to, has to, get smarter about the distance shooting; at the same time, I agree with Don, that good coaching would accommodate his niche of D and driving to the basket (or at least towards the basket) more than has happened in Detroit.

Wise, what happened to your it's 100% coaching line from last year? Is the argument now that Casey's simply identical to SVG? That would be a stretch (although less of one that I would have thought before the season), but I think it's the contention you'd need to make to hold on to what I already regarded as an implausible contention last year. And oh for the days of yore when seemingly mediocre players were in fact better than current All Stars, with memorable feats that somehow aren't remembered (whereas a game tying tip in is immediately forgotten).

Yes, fellow forumites, these are the days (or years, or decades) of lamentation.

[BallinD]

It was a loss, but Spo is a great coach and can squeeze sugar out of a lemon.  Casey appears to be a slow learner, but at least he got SJ out of the starting lineup.  

Now he's gotta let go of the extreme small-ball debacle type rotations.  Having Ish, Weggie, Galloway on the floor together is ineffective because they can't guard anyone.  He seems like SVG in that he goes with an idea because it makes sense to him, but is fundamentally unsound.  If there was a time to play SJ or Brown, it would be in one of the small ball lineups to slow down a Lavine or a Josh Richardson.  Very schizophrenic of him to go all defense at times and all offense at times with no rhyme or reason.

He did open up a reprise of the Weggie P&R in OT, which I say, finally, some balance, but it was only because Blake was out.

SI Link: Blake or Bust

The SI piece basically says we are sunk without Blake, but I think Luke and Bullock can help a lot when they get back and get in their groove.  I'd love to see either of them in the small ball rotation playing the three, with more height than 6-3 Weggie, who plays SF in those lineups.  I hope based on the Miami game and his conversations with Blake that Weggie can be a legit third wheel we can count on.

SI: "Outside of Griffin and Drummond, Detroit’s roster is deeply flawed, devoid of reliable playmaking and perimeter shooting. Reggie Jackson, who is more suited for added scoring pop in a secondary role, is miscast as a lead guard. He hijacked a string of late-game possessions in Brooklyn and shot despite being swarmed by three defenders as time expired in regulation. His 2018–19 assist rate of 17.5% is a career low, and Jackson sports an effective field-goal percentage that ranks fifth worst of all guards averaging more than 25 minutes per game. Expecting Jackson to provide a steady hand in the backcourt is not a recipe for success."

while this coaching staff is bent on playing read and react free for all style basketball with no offensive game plan other than to use Blake as a wrecking ball, I can't get over the mistake made in the last draft. While Stanley Johnson is the focus of discontent after playing 14 minutes in this last game and scoring 0 points with 1 rebound and 1 assist, Alonzo Trier, the 2nd best player in the PAC12 last season and perhaps the season before that was not good enough for the Pistons to gamble on with one of those 2nd round picks. Yet surprise surprise last night Trier scored 21 points , 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist and 1 block in 42 minutes. All Trier wants to do is win. I am so happy for him. But the experts decided he was not even good enough to make the 2nd round. NY decided to give him a try out. Not the Pistons of course because they are already loaded at the PG and 2G. By the way, Trier plays both of those positions. Great job Piston brain trust. You really make things fun for Piston fans these days.

 

Cool:Under the radar, Big Ed Stefanski did not overhaul the scouting team for the Pistons.  He kept the same jokers that brought us Stanley, Luke, and Bruce and Khyri, vs. Trier this year.  Yikes.  That is possibly the most important overhaul we need, because without a talent infusion, we are going nowhere fast.

[cool breeze]

while this coaching staff is bent on playing read and react free for all style basketball with no offensive game plan other than to use Blake as a wrecking ball, I can't get over the mistake made in the last draft. While Stanley Johnson is the focus of discontent after playing 14 minutes in this last game and scoring 0 points with 1 rebound and 1 assist, Alonzo Trier, the 2nd best player in the PAC12 last season and perhaps the season before that was not good enough for the Pistons to gamble on with one of those 2nd round picks. Yet surprise surprise last night Trier scored 21 points , 3 rebounds, 2 steals, 1 assist and 1 block in 42 minutes. All Trier wants to do is win. I am so happy for him. But the experts decided he was not even good enough to make the 2nd round. NY decided to give him a try out. Not the Pistons of course because they are already loaded at the PG and 2G. By the way, Trier plays both of those positions. Great job Piston brain trust. You really make things fun for Piston fans these days.

[cool breeze]

Coach Casey, has decided to bench Stanley Johnson? Say it ain't so. Backbone is showing or growing as this is something that is long overdue. I was beginning to believe Dwane Casey was Stanley's agent and coach, with the "experiment" and undeserved faith he was giving the kid through pre-season and the first 8 games: "Johnson is shooting 35 percent from the field and just 25 percent from three-point range. He has a 4.2 player efficiency rating! Johnson is almost accounting for nearly 25 percent of the team’s turnovers per 100 possessions. One player. How can you defend this?"This was noted by Travis Gibbs. Casey appears to be saying "enough is enough" and continuing to try and fit the bric-a-brac of a roster left behind by SVG into something resembling competitive and waiting for his bosses to do something proactive and creative.

Please don't be waiting on the trade deadline to try and improve this roster; it's time to find a new home for Reggie Jackson, before he does his annual letdown/meltdown, stop acting as if we don't know what Jon Leuer, brings to the table, for real, and consider trading 22 year old, full of potential, top ten pick, Stanley Johnson! I wonder if we had Anthony Bennett, would we still be waiting for him to blossom, after all he was a #1 pick. What would the Timberwolves want for Jimmy Butler now? Would we be better off with Andrew Wiggins? Would Denver be interested in a Drummond for Jokic, deal? Really, that's the only center I'd be willing to trade Drummond for, in spite of the fans who class Andre as dog sh!t, because he doesn't play up to their standards. Anthony Davis? He's New Orleans...they love him and he loves "The Big Easy." K.A.T.? The Timberwolves just demonstrated what he means to their franchise with the contract he just signed. Casey is too politically correct to come out and say "get rid of these mofo's and give me some players who want to win and have a brain!" Meanwhile we are who we are.

Phillip Boy wrote a scolding assessment if Drummond, which was true as far as Embiid goes, (he is a b!tch) but ask Reggie Jackson to come off the bench as a 7th man and then you'll see a real, unreal b!tch...not going to happen.

Where is Khyrie Thomas? He was supposed to be the steal of the draft; size, shooting, smarts, and defense. With Brown getting all the run he has I wonder if Thomas is another brain fart by the front office.

Robinson took advantage of his opportunity and did well. But I wold prefer that his Father would come out of retirement and play. He was a real stud. Johnson is having a rough time lately. He did prevent Wade from scoring when he was playing in the first half. Stanley didn't touch the basketball in the first half more than one time either. He was getting rusty standing on the weak side baseline so it was even tough for him to help with transition defense when other Pistons shot those long contested jump shots. On one Heat possession while both Johnson and Leuer were playing, Kelly O received a pass beyond the 3 point line and Leuer was in the paint guarding nobody. Johnson switched from his man on the way and prevented Kelly from shooting an uncontested 3. Instead, being that Leuer still didn't realize that he was not guarding anyone and failed to cover Johnson's man while seeming content to stand alone in the paint allowed Kelly to make an easy pass to the wing where that player drilled a 3 pointer. Nothing has changed relating to the dysfunction with this new coaching staff. At least SVG would blow up and raise his arms in disbelief when things like that happened. How many high school teams do not cover better than our Pistons on defense? Johnson is out of sync even more playing under Casey who is a free style guy for sure. One way or another, this will be Johnson's final year as a Piston. He is only 22 years old and will find a home elsewhere. Johnson can play sound defense but with the Pistons everyone looks bad on defense when the coach decides to play horrible defenders at the PG and 2G along with Jon Leuer. When Stanley missed that easy shot under the basket, that might be the last nail in the coffin for him. But if the coach has the capability to construct a half court offense that has the ability to play both sides of the court, Johnson could have a big role. He cannot have any role in Casey's offense for sure. When screening, cutting without the basketball, missing cutters when they do cut and just playing one on one ball with the same two or three players on every possession will ruin the careers of the other two players who seldom touch the basketball. Johnson needs to get away from Detroit as soon as possible so he can start over with more mature players at the PG and 2G. Johnson might have a better chance of success if Bradley and Harris were still on the team as well.

Now I am wondering what the Pistons might get in a trade involving Johnson. Being he has been so inconsistent on offense, I suspect maybe the Pistons might get a 2nd round pick at best. This should be his last season but the Pistons could make a qualifying offer if they believe that he will be a good player by the time he is in his prime at 25. I would like to see a big trade involving first round picks with Johnson and Drummond involved. Maybe the Pistons could pick up two rotation players and some draft picks. Detroit has nothing to lose now. They are truly a horrible basketball team with an inept coaching staff so far. What is new for Piston fans?

[cool breeze]

Although Reggie Jackson had some success on offense at times in the 2nd half, he could not guard anyone at any time. The same was true relating to Ish Smith. Smith actually turned his back to his assigned player who hit a big 3 pointer at the top of the key. The combination of Galloway, smith and Jackson is insane. This coach doesn't have the players he needs to have success playing the mindless read and react play one side of the court offense. One would think that at the Pistons are a junior high team not an NBA team and seem incapable of running any sane offensive set.

Some might be impressed with how Galloway played in this last game. However, when you break it all down and see the type of off balance contested shots he made especially a fall away 3 pointer on the baseline, you would come to the conclusion that if it is necessary for a guy like Galloway to shoot that type of shot then the Pistons are a really horrible basketball team. Is it really true that this team cannot get uncontested shots at least 30% of the time? Yes that is true. With such a defective offense featuring the stand around and watch Blake Griffin for most of every game shoot his variety of low percentage shots while the point guard and 2 guard cannot guard a fly, it is easy to realize why this is not just an unlucky period the team is going through. Opposing teams set their offense to stop Griffin. the Pistons have no answer. They play better without him.

Andre Drummond is never going to be a difference maker. He get his stats and looks good on paper but watching the games, anyone can see that he is not a factor at all. That is the way it has been for the last 3 years. I see nothing different with the Pistons this season over the two previous seasons.

Ask yourself this question... Over the last five games wouldn't you gladly trade every opposing team's roster for the Piston's roster. And factor in the financial picture where the other teams who beat the Pistons have much more flexibility, wouldn't you all be extremely happy to unload this entire group? Nothing makes sense now.

Casey is actually playing Galloway, Smith and Jackson together. After seeing that I would give anything to have SVG back. There is no way he would do that. This coach is grasping at straws. There is no offensive game plan. And the talent level at skill positions might be the worst in the entire NBA. Who wouldn't trade the Nets for their two players who play point guard and the 2 guard in Dinwiddie and LeVert? Both of those players would punish our inept players, Jackson, Smith and Galloway scoring at will in every matchup. But it doesn't really matter who the Pistons play because every team has better point guards and 2 guards when factoring in how badly our players play defense. I have never witnessed a NBA coach come out with a lineup like Casey has done. No wonder he was fired in Toronto. And the strength of the Piston sis supposed to be at power forward and center. Griffin does not play smart. He looks confused because his coach has placed him in an impossible position forcing Blake to go against the whole team because the coach cannot construct an offense that uses the weak side when Blake is doubled or tripled. The end result is forced low percentage shots that miss and easy baskets by opposing teams after those misses because the Pistons are not blessed with even average defenders. What a combination so Detroit will have to catch opposing teams on off nights or those who have sustained critical injuries to win.

The worst thing for a fan is to watch their team play basketball with a low IQ. The Pistons are an extremely low basketball team on both offense and defense. It is as if they have no coach at all telling them where to be. But with that said, we have seen two coaching staffs have no luck getting this team to play the right way so in the end the facts show that the Piston do not have the right players to have a chance to win. Tolliver played with a high basketball IQ. Moreland played extremely hard in the paint on defense. Casey had to have a say as to signing or not signing those two players. Moreland got back fast in transition to break up opposing teams steamrolling to the basket on those low percentage shot attempts made last season. Now opposing teams are in the hunt waiting to push the basketball against the Pistons with Jackson, Smith and Galloway looking helpless often using their arms instead of their legs to stop dribble penetration. the Heat like most teams in the NBA have players who can knock down wide open uncontested shots either inside the paint or outside the paint. Maybe Casey doesn't know that and thinks he can get lucky playing AAU basketball.

[Oracle]

They're experimenting and looking for the right combination of players.

GR3 looked good, certainly in contrast to Stanley whose confidence is totally shot.

Galloway looked good... must have been a blue moon, but I'll take it.

Drummond was awesome getting us into OT damn near by himself with his offensive rebounding two critically missed shots.

However, the big news, at least to me, was the way Reggie and Blake appear to be managing their ball handling relationship. This is a work in progress, and an important turn of events. Blake can initiate the offense, but he can't be the only go to player on the team.

We need Reggie to emerge as the 2nd go to player(since we've traded away all of our previous go to guys), and tonight was a baby step in that direction.

It's not only that we need that, but an active Reggie allows Blake to score in a lot of additional ways, especially being the target of a pick and roll(it isn't just for Drummond).

Making the way Drummond, Reggie & Blake work together is the key to the way everybody else fits into the system. Casey hasn't done much to impress yet, but I'm encouraged by the fact that he's looking for solutions and not afraid to make radical lineup changes.

All of the big 3 are veterans, so it shouldn't take them too long to figure this out, but it will take awhile to perfect it... here's hoping!

[WTF]

AD got 24-25 or was it 25-24 doesn't matter it was a loss at home

[WTF]

Dele, Mills, Miller, Polynice, Benson, Anthony, Brown, Hubbard, Mohammed, Montross, Ruland, and Wilcox were starters.

And that doesn't even count good Pistons center that Drummond is still better than:  Salley, Edwards, Laettner, Smith, Moore, Scott, Monroe, Dukes, Edwards, Foust and Mahorn.

Sure AD has better stats, but he also have tinier balls than any one you mentioned from former scrub to starter now put that in your pipe and smoke it. I;m talking heart and I'm talking results and not numbers.  

Seems Murph you want to keep pushing numbers while ignoring tangibles and intangibles that clearly prove that everyone you mention would be taking AD's lunch money.  

Again having better stats without meaningful results does not make you better.  Tell me about AD's big moments in a playoff game, tell me about AD's rising to the challenge, tell me about his playoff wins, tell ne about that meaningful block.  Sadly you can't tell me about any of these things when it comes to AD but you can tell me yeah he managed a 20-20 when it matter the least.  

20-20 should be his season average not something that comes every 6 or 7 games apart.  Tell me about a time he got 10 blocks and dominated the paint no you can't do that either.  I willing to bet that many of the guys you listed had some memorable moment that we can all reflect upon and say remember that time.  You can't do that with AD can you. Well you can say remember that time AD got a 20-20 even Kwame had a big moment or 2. 

I'll cheer his stats when they actually mean something, I'll say he's better when he actually lead this team to playoff victories, I'll say he's better when he stop getting walked over by Embiid and others.   

You might as well put a pink skirt on him to go along with those stats considering he's getting them against weak players and stats padding well playing no defense.

[BallinD]

Giving GR3 the start shows Casey is not quite as stubborn as SVG, and maybe the analytics side of his brain is awakening. Where's the side-to-side action and crisp ball movement that was promised? Hopefully, when Luke comes back he won't be getting any more DNP-CDs either and we can see a modern offense. At 4-4 it's time for a fresh start. Casey gets a mulligan.

As for Dre, it wouldn't be so bad if he could man-up and say hey, Embiid is a great offensive player. I've gotta make him work harder, and I will, next time we play, instead of this childish schoolyard one-upmanship via social media (sometimes a scourge). Then it won't be personal and he can still win the matchup by helping his team win. The Pistons did that to MJ for years, before the Bulls broke through, even though everybody knew Jordan was the best individual talent. BBall is a team sport. IMHO, Dre made it personal with a great assist from Embiid the troll. Dre-- "shut up and dribble," or rather, shut up and move your feet, keep your head in the game and let Blake take it to Embiid. Sheesh!

Go Pistons

[Murph]

Dele, Mills, Miller, Polynice, Benson, Anthony, Brown, Hubbard, Mohammed, Montross, Ruland, and Wilcox were starters.

And that doesn't even count good Pistons center that Drummond is still better than: Salley, Edwards, Laettner, Smith, Moore, Scott, Monroe, Dukes, Edwards, Foust and Mahorn.

[Sponsored content]