Game 79: Pistons (22-56) @ Pacers (25-53) Apr. 3 5:00 PM EST

[Cowology]

We are not yet locked into 4th worst.

We are not going to beat Dal, Mil & Phi. Relax.

[Laimbeer]

Beating OKC really hurt. But we can still get #3 maybe? There's a much better chance we do that than slide to #5.

[NYPiston]

Beating OKC really hurt. But we can still get #3 maybe? There's a much better chance we do that than slide to #5.

Nah, that's over. OKC isn't winning another game.

[breezypeezy]

We are not yet a lock for a 4th worst finish. we can still potentially pick as low as 9th.

[Manocad]

4th can theoretically pick 8th, but the odds of the four worst records all missing on lottery balls is really, really low.

Most likely outcome is 6th, I think, with two jumpers and two of the worst three picks, but 7th is pretty close. Still a 40ish percent chance of picking top 4.

A bunch of you really don’t understand math very well. Still, make a list of seven guys, and between differences of opinion and lottery odds, we could almost certainly get one or two of them… and still maybe any of them!

Lighten up, Francises.

Exactly, I don't understand all the ledge jumping.

1-7 with Smith, Holmgren, Banchero, Ivey, Mathurin, Murray, Sharpe. Any of those 7 would be fine and after the top 3 bigs, the other 4 names are interchangeable. Dropping to 4th only really effects the odds of 5-7 significantly, 1-4 are largely unchanged (stated for the freaking 50 millionth time just for those who STILL don't get it). Passing Indiana would be rough though but with the schedule, and those teams still having something to play for, I don't think it'll happen.

Yep. Would they have locked up 4th worst losing this game? Sure. Are they likely to win 2 of their last three given who they play and the circumstances for those games? Hell no. Lose two and they clinch 4th worst.

[440BB]

Bey and Halliburton had quite a postgame chat. I get the sense they became buds during the Rising Stars event. They sure looked good together.

[breezypeezy]

We are not yet locked into 4th worst.

We are not going to beat Dal, Mil & Phi. Relax.

They will likely be playing the end of their bench to rest guy's for the playoffs.
There is a very real possibility Indy still ties us with 25 wins.

[Cowology]

Beating OKC really hurt. But we can still get #3 maybe? There's a much better chance we do that than slide to #5.

Nah, that's over. OKC isn't winning another game.

Yeah, our g-league team just wrecked them. Our best hope would probably be the Lakers game if they are officially eliminated from the the playoffs, but they could still be battling for that play in spot. But they are playing terrible right now and if they completely pack it in that's a god awful roster. But I'd still expect OKC to lose.

[Cowology]

We are not yet locked into 4th worst.

We are not going to beat Dal, Mil & Phi. Relax.

They will likely be playing the end of their bench to rest guy's for the playoffs.
There is a very real possibility Indy still ties us with 25 wins.

Give it a rest.

[Manocad]

We are not yet locked into 4th worst.

We are not going to beat Dal, Mil & Phi. Relax.

They will likely be playing the end of their bench to rest guy's for the playoffs.
There is a very real possibility Indy still ties us with 25 wins.

Oh, it's 100% a real possibility mathematically. You are unequivocally and absolutely correct on that. It's just not one bit likely. There are still seeding implications for Dallas, Milwaukee and Philly so I don't buy at all that it's likely they'll all be playing the end of their bench. Not to mention that in an end of bench vs end of bench matchup they all three probably still win.

[Homelander87]

The franchise wins at the wrong times. Gonna finish with a better record than Indiana probably now

[whitehops]

the one thing i wish we did with all this tanking tomfoolery is play garza. we benched stewart last game and went with pickett and key as our "centers", we played stewart like 21 minutes tonight and olynyk who isn't even a center himself only played 18 minutes.

when we literally don't care about wins i don't understand why we don't at least get some more tape on him in the nba to make roster decisions this off season. i know he has an ankle injury now but he played for the cruise like a week ago.

it probably won't make a difference one way or another in the long run, i'm just questioning the thinking/process (like playing cade, bey and stewart for 6 minutes last game).

[zeebneeb]

The franchise wins at the wrong times. Gonna finish with a better record than Indiana probably now

Like last year?

The Pistons have the best player from last years draft in their pocket, and are going to get another lottery pick again this year.

This year's draft is deeper then people realize, especially given the Pistons needs.

I would be happy as hell with Mathurin personally.

[NYPiston]

Nah, that's over. OKC isn't winning another game.

And then OKC says "How can we make NYPiston look like an idiot?" as they blow out Phoenix, who I assume is resting a bunch of guys.

[zeebneeb]

Nah, that's over. OKC isn't winning another game.

And then OKC says "How can we make NYPiston look like an idiot?" as they blow out Phoenix, who I assume is resting a bunch of guys.

Nothing worse then immediately being wrong.

You never know what can happen at the end of the season. Pistons could lose the rest, and end up tied for worst record.

[Manocad]

The franchise wins at the wrong times. Gonna finish with a better record than Indiana probably now

Nope. Not probable at all.

[tmorgan]

Poku triple double, some dude named Olivier Sarr lighting it up. It really is a crazy time of year. Never bet on the final ten games of the NBA regular season. Never ever.

[The Moose]

the one thing i wish we did with all this tanking tomfoolery is play garza. we benched stewart last game and went with pickett and key as our "centers", we played stewart like 21 minutes tonight and olynyk who isn't even a center himself only played 18 minutes.

when we literally don't care about wins i don't understand why we don't at least get some more tape on him in the nba to make roster decisions this off season. i know he has an ankle injury now but he played for the cruise like a week ago.

it probably won't make a difference one way or another in the long run, i'm just questioning the thinking/process (like playing cade, bey and stewart for 6 minutes last game).

as far as I'm aware Garza is injured, he's not playing in the gleague games either

[kierkegaard]

the one thing i wish we did with all this tanking tomfoolery is play garza. we benched stewart last game and went with pickett and key as our "centers", we played stewart like 21 minutes tonight and olynyk who isn't even a center himself only played 18 minutes.

when we literally don't care about wins i don't understand why we don't at least get some more tape on him in the nba to make roster decisions this off season. i know he has an ankle injury now but he played for the cruise like a week ago.

it probably won't make a difference one way or another in the long run, i'm just questioning the thinking/process (like playing cade, bey and stewart for 6 minutes last game).

as far as I'm aware Garza is injured, he's not playing in the gleague games either

I don't get the story about Garza having an ankle injury. Isn't the rule that you need to elevate at least 2 inches off the floor to sprain an ankle?