Game 57: Detroit Pistons (26-30) @ Atlanta Hawks (19-39)

[DetroitPistons]

It should've been a much easier W, but at least it was good to see this team fight back on the road after getting their biggest weapon thrown out.

An ugly win against a doormat is still a win, so onwards to the playoffs!

I wouldn't even call it ugly. We played like a team today and played really well overall. ATL had the best shooting night of all time and hit tons of contested 3s, the refs were terrible, and obviously Griffin got tossed. That's a lot to overcome and we did it by playing good team basketball.

[DetroitPistons]

My goodness, we had no momentum towards the end. I felt like we just manufactured our last several baskets and Thon with the pumpfake 3 for the win!

Best TEAM effort win all season. Welcome back Jackson!

I honestly feel like this team could easily have 5-8 more wins if Casey wasn't such an idiot. Almost gave this one away. Reggie literally had to fight through a triple team on the last possession because of Casey's love affair with Brown. Got lucky with Thon's shot but our coach needs to be better.

Casey's rotations are often really annoying but he has this team playing hard and the Xs and Os seem to be good. He just needs to chill with the Brown love and stop keeping Kennard on such a short leash. Kennard was actually playing well today and still couldn't crack the rotation. I will forgive Casey a bit today though because Brown was hounding Young and hit some big shots.

[hoophabit]

Oh and Andre with another no big deal 20 20 game

And, two clutch free throws?

[440BB]

Hell even Jon Leuer crept out of the shadows to contribute.

[DTP]

My goodness, we had no momentum towards the end. I felt like we just manufactured our last several baskets and Thon with the pumpfake 3 for the win!

Best TEAM effort win all season. Welcome back Jackson!

I honestly feel like this team could easily have 5-8 more wins if Casey wasn't such an idiot. Almost gave this one away. Reggie literally had to fight through a triple team on the last possession because of Casey's love affair with Brown. Got lucky with Thon's shot but our coach needs to be better.

Casey's rotations are often really annoying but he has this team playing hard and the Xs and Os seem to be good. He just needs to chill with the Brown love and stop keeping Kennard on such a short leash. Kennard was actually playing well today and still couldn't crack the rotation. I will forgive Casey a bit today though because Brown was hounding Young and hit some big shots.

Does it count as a big shot when the team isn't guarding you? And Trae got pretty much whatever he wanted. You really think Ish couldn't have let Trae go for 30+ but provide much production on the offensive end? Casey's Xs and Os have been awful....he's never been an Xs and Os coach. That's why Masai forced Nurse and Kalamian as his offensive and defensive coordinators in Toronto. If you remember before Casey was hired, a report came out on how big of a deal it was for Casey to pick his own staff...because previous management had to pick his staff for him. After watching Casey this season, I don't blame Toronto's management. Rotations are bad and it took him half a season to figure out how to use his second and third best players.

[_Und3r][D4wg_]

HELL YEAH! EFF Atlanta! EFF the refs! EFF Vince Carter!

Especially him!

Good thing about the refs screwing us by kicking Blake out is he should be rested for tomorrow's game.

If we win tomorrow, what a way for the refs to unintentionally & grudgingly do us a solid.

Watching Reggie desperately rip the ball from Andre Drummond's bosom so they don't foul him. Love it!

Very smart play, indeed. Something Blake would've yelled for had he still been on the floor.

I'm starting to believe Reggie has returned to full health, just in time to make the rest of the year interesting.

My thoughts, as well. At least on this issue, Casey was right when he said earlier in the season that Reggie was playing well below peak physical condition and that his play would come around at about the time it did. I'm even more encouraged about his improved decision-making/play-making.

[DetroitPistons]

Does it count as a big shot when the team isn't guarding you? And Trae got pretty much whatever he wanted. You really think Ish couldn't have let Trae go for 30+ but provide much production on the offensive end? Casey's Xs and Os have been awful....he's never been an Xs and Os coach. That's why Masai forced Nurse and Kalamian as his offensive and defensive coordinators in Toronto. If you remember before Casey was hired, a report came out on how big of a deal it was for Casey to pick his own staff...because previous management had to pick his staff for him. After watching Casey this season, I don't blame Toronto's management. Rotations are bad and it took him half a season to figure out how to use his second and third best players.

Hey I'm one of the least impressed people with Brown but you have to give him some credit. Hit a tough contested and1 floater and then hit a 3 right in Young's face. Yes, Young had a good night overall but Brown was shutting him down in that 3rd quarter. Also, we scored a ton, moved the ball really well, and had contributions from everyone all without Griffin so Casey's offensive system seems to be working. If you want to criticize Casey I get it. I'm not saying your'e way wrong or anything but if you're looking for a specific game to point out his flaws, this isn't the game.

[DTP]

Does it count as a big shot when the team isn't guarding you? And Trae got pretty much whatever he wanted. You really think Ish couldn't have let Trae go for 30+ but provide much production on the offensive end? Casey's Xs and Os have been awful....he's never been an Xs and Os coach. That's why Masai forced Nurse and Kalamian as his offensive and defensive coordinators in Toronto. If you remember before Casey was hired, a report came out on how big of a deal it was for Casey to pick his own staff...because previous management had to pick his staff for him. After watching Casey this season, I don't blame Toronto's management. Rotations are bad and it took him half a season to figure out how to use his second and third best players.

Hey I'm one of the least impressed people with Brown but you have to give him some credit. Hit a tough contested and1 floater and then hit a 3 right in Young's face. Yes, Young had a good night overall but Brown was shutting him down in that 3rd quarter. Also, we scored a ton, moved the ball really well, and had contributions from everyone all without Griffin so Casey's offensive system seems to be working. If you want to criticize Casey I get it. I'm not saying your'e way wrong or anything but if you're looking for a specific game to point out his flaws, this isn't the game.

In my opinion, its not about wins or losses. If we lost tonight, would you have the same opinion? What I'm seeing is once again, the team struggling big time in the fourth quarter and the coach failing to be able to adjust. Atlanta wasn't guarding Brown down the stretch of the game....its why they could easily throw double and triple teams at Jackson. Its not a formula that's going to win often and I have no idea how it worked tonight. What I do know is that coaching like that has lost plenty of games this season....the first game in Charlotte comes to mind immediately.

Also btw, my criticism isn't of Brown. He sucks offensively...it is what it is. He's a second round pick...hopefully he develops a shot but I can't criticize much. If he still doesnt have a shot next year and beyond, maybe but now I'm not mad. I'm simply mad at Casey for being dumb.

[The_Irony]

people are complaining about the win like this team is a top 4 eastern conference team. there's a reason they're just as in the playoff race as theyre out of it.

I appreciate Reggie and Dre's effort despite losing Blake. the thon play was hopefully more important on the psychological side of the team than the results side. the heart and execution this team has been looking for. take the win and build on this.

[DTP]

people are complaining about the win like this team is a top 4 eastern conference team. there's a reason they're just as in the playoff race as theyre out of it.

I appreciate Reggie and Dre's effort despite losing Blake. the thon play was hopefully more important on the psychological side of the team than the results side. the heart and execution this team has been looking for. take the win and build on this.

Not complaining about the players though....I thought they all played their asses off, which is all I can ask for. Atlanta plays hard, not even upset that it was a hard fought game. I just think the coach sucks.

[Snakebites]

I was pretty irked by everything that went down in the third quarter and actually really wanted this win.

The Maker shot at the end made it worth it.

I've accepted that we're not getting a desirable draft pick out of this season. Just enjoy the ride for the rest of the year for what it is, folks.

[vege]

Seeing Blake's minutes I thought he was injured, thank God he was ejected, I was scared for a minute.

[Billl]

people are complaining about the win like this team is a top 4 eastern conference team. there's a reason they're just as in the playoff race as theyre out of it.

I appreciate Reggie and Dre's effort despite losing Blake. the thon play was hopefully more important on the psychological side of the team than the results side. the heart and execution this team has been looking for. take the win and build on this.

Not complaining about the players though....I thought they all played their asses off, which is all I can ask for. Atlanta plays hard, not even upset that it was a hard fought game. I just think the coach sucks.

Kinda funny when we spend years complaining that our coaches can't get guys to play hard, and then we finally get a coach who gets guys to play hard and people are still complaining.

[flow]

My goodness, we had no momentum towards the end. I felt like we just manufactured our last several baskets and Thon with the pumpfake 3 for the win!

Best TEAM effort win all season. Welcome back Jackson!

I honestly feel like this team could easily have 5-8 more wins if Casey wasn't such an idiot. Almost gave this one away. Reggie literally had to fight through a triple team on the last possession because of Casey's love affair with Brown. Got lucky with Thon's shot but our coach needs to be better.

Casey's rotations are often really annoying but he has this team playing hard and the Xs and Os seem to be good. He just needs to chill with the Brown love and stop keeping Kennard on such a short leash. Kennard was actually playing well today and still couldn't crack the rotation. I will forgive Casey a bit today though because Brown was hounding Young and hit some big shots.

I agree the team is playing hard for him, but the X's and O's are not good.

[DTP]

people are complaining about the win like this team is a top 4 eastern conference team. there's a reason they're just as in the playoff race as theyre out of it.

I appreciate Reggie and Dre's effort despite losing Blake. the thon play was hopefully more important on the psychological side of the team than the results side. the heart and execution this team has been looking for. take the win and build on this.

Not complaining about the players though....I thought they all played their asses off, which is all I can ask for. Atlanta plays hard, not even upset that it was a hard fought game. I just think the coach sucks.

Kinda funny when we spend years complaining that our coaches can't get guys to play hard, and then we finally get a coach who gets guys to play hard and people are still complaining.

When did we set our standards so low for freakin professionals? If the only thing your coach can do is get the guys to play hard, I.....I have no words. His rotations suck, plain and simple.

[Laimbeer]

I guess I didn't realize Maker shot threes. 33.1% on 4.3 attempts per 36. Pretty respectable for a big guy.

Excited for Reggie's game, but I'm fully braced for a let down. He is what he is. Talented, but inconsistent with lapses in discipline.

[El Chivo]

Bruce Brown sets the tone. He's basically our Marcus Smart.

[Canadafan]

Just got done watching the game. Who the heck is this Reggie Jackson guy?? He looked freakin awesome!

[Canadafan]

Why does it seem like majority of NBA players don't like Blake?

[detroitKG]

Why does it seem like majority of NBA players don't like Blake?

I think his ultra competitive nature can rub some the wrong way...I've always appreciated that part of him..dudes out there trying to win basketball games not make friends..