Playoffs locked up. Just happened. Like a few minutes ago. Just now! All locked up!

[Kalamazoo317]

In the roster's current form, Ivey fits best in the Shroeder role (which is why we got Shroeder).

[bstein14]

If Ivey was healthy and we got the 6 seed to play the Knicks in the first round, this is what I think JB would cut the rotation down to.

C: Duren (26) / Stew (22)
F: Tobias (34) / Font (14)
F: Ausar(29) / THJ (19)
G: Ivey(19) / Beasley(29)
G: Cade(36) / Ivey(12)

RH2 gets cut out the rotation completely for the playoffs, Font the lowest MPG of the 9 rotation players at just 14 MPG.

Part of me also thinks we should try some Duren and Stew together as well this season in short spurts just incase we end up playing a team with two bigs that we need Stew's mobility for. Mainly the Bucks who will start a Kuzma + Giannis + Lopez up front and that lineup might have too much size for our regular starters. The Bucks have had some dominant games against us including Lopez going off from deep and Giannis just flat out dominating us. Part of me thinks, in that matchup in particular.... having Stew spend a lot of time guarding Giannis is going to be key for us to have a chance. Not sure we've seen enough Ausar on him yet but throwing different players at him is fine with me but we really can't afford to let Milwaukee get to abuse us like they had previously when we started a Duren/Tobias/THJ front court.

[Kalamazoo317]

Shroeder would play

[Canadafan]

If Ivey was healthy and we got the 6 seed to play the Knicks in the first round, this is what I think JB would cut the rotation down to.

C: Duren (26) / Stew (22)
F: Tobias (34) / Font (14)
F: Ausar(29) / THJ (19)
G: Ivey(19) / Beasley(29)
G: Cade(36) / Ivey(12)

RH2 gets cut out the rotation completely for the playoffs, Font the lowest MPG of the 9 rotation players at just 14 MPG.

Part of me also thinks we should try some Duren and Stew together as well this season in short spurts just incase we end up playing a team with two bigs that we need Stew's mobility for. Mainly the Bucks who will start a Kuzma + Giannis + Lopez up front and that lineup might have too much size for our regular starters. The Bucks have had some dominant games against us including Lopez going off from deep and Giannis just flat out dominating us. Part of me thinks, in that matchup in particular.... having Stew spend a lot of time guarding Giannis is going to be key for us to have a chance. Not sure we've seen enough Ausar on him yet but throwing different players at him is fine with me but we really can't afford to let Milwaukee get to abuse us like they had previously when we started a Duren/Tobias/THJ front court.

Ya, i think Stew playing a little PF with Duren at C would be good in spurts against big teams.
The way Font has played I'd prefer he sat.
Duren30 Stew18
Tobias30 Stew6 Ausar12
Ausar18 Holland18 Cade12
Ivey24 Beasley24
Cade18 Shröder24 Ivey6

Next year I hope we can retain these 8 guys and somehow turn Tobias, Tech and draft picks into Markkanen
Any PF out there that plays stifling defense and shoots 3s? We need our Rasheed next year to truly blossom

[Kalamazoo317]

I’m expecting Tobias to retire as a Piston

[Canadafan]

I’m expecting Tobias to retire as a Piston

I'd take just a really good backup to him.
Or go small and have Ausar/Holland get those minutes

[Kalamazoo317]

Holland is 6'8. Theoretically if he puts on some mass, he could make sense as a PF long-term. I don't mind Tobias as our PF for this year and next and then kind of see from there. I also haven't given up on Tech. He just needs to find his shot again a bit more.

[zeebneeb]

Really nice interview with Ausar;

https://ftw.usatoday.com/2025/02/ausar-thompson-interview-detroit-pistons-dunk-contest-amen

How do you rate your defensive abilities right now and where is it headed?

Ausar: "I think I’m the best perimeter defender in the league. That’s what I believe. I don’t think I’m a near and finished product, though. I think I can get over screens better. I think I can be locked in at all times better. I want to be NBA Defensive Player of the Year. But it’s so hard with Wemby because he is going to get four blocks every game. It’s something that I think is possible though."

[MortSahlfan]

Really nice interview with Ausar;

https://ftw.usatoday.com/2025/02/ausar-thompson-interview-detroit-pistons-dunk-contest-amen

How do you rate your defensive abilities right now and where is it headed?

Ausar: "I think I’m the best perimeter defender in the league. That’s what I believe. I don’t think I’m a near and finished product, though. I think I can get over screens better. I think I can be locked in at all times better. I want to be NBA Defensive Player of the Year. But it’s so hard with Wemby because he is going to get four blocks every game. It’s something that I think is possible though."

Ausar: Every year, I’m trying to win the championship. When we went 14-68, I thought this team could go to the championship. I’m going to stick with that every year. I don’t want to just make it to the playoffs or the second round. That’s a waste of time. We might as well go for it all.

[Kalamazoo317]

Love the mentality

[joedumars1]

Really nice interview with Ausar;

https://ftw.usatoday.com/2025/02/ausar-thompson-interview-detroit-pistons-dunk-contest-amen

How do you rate your defensive abilities right now and where is it headed?

Ausar: "I think I’m the best perimeter defender in the league. That’s what I believe. I don’t think I’m a near and finished product, though. I think I can get over screens better. I think I can be locked in at all times better. I want to be NBA Defensive Player of the Year. But it’s so hard with Wemby because he is going to get four blocks every game. It’s something that I think is possible though."

Ausar: Every year, I’m trying to win the championship. When we went 14-68, I thought this team could go to the championship. I’m going to stick with that every year. I don’t want to just make it to the playoffs or the second round. That’s a waste of time. We might as well go for it all.

My favorite piston now, he’s going to be great. I’m guessing he breaths eats and sleeps ball

[bstein14]

29-26 right now so 27 games to go.

17-10 feels realistically possible considering we're 18-9 our last 27 games including a few last second buzzer beating losses.

17-10 finish would put us at 46-36 record which would be incredible considering where we were last season.

That said, I also wouldn't be surprised if we finished out the last end of the season closer to .500 at 14-13 or even 13-14.

Even if things go south and we finish 12-15 our last 27 that is still good enough for a 41-41 record and a .500 season I can't really see us being worse than 12-15 the rest of the season unless we get hit with an injury bug.

[tmorgan]

Whatever number of wins it takes to finish 6th should be the goal. Guaranteed playoff series would be a wonderful achievement for the year. Finishing 6th and playing the Knicks would be extra awesome, as we seem to match up pretty well and could at least give them a decent series.

[zeebneeb]

Whatever number of wins it takes to finish 6th should be the goal. Guaranteed playoff series would be a wonderful achievement for the year. Finishing 6th and playing the Knicks would be extra awesome, as we seem to match up pretty well and could at least give them a decent series.

It would be ideal to play against the Knicks, as the Pistons matchup extremely well with them. I'm not saying the Pistons would win that series, far from it.

It will be the perfect first series for this group, and Cade. Against a Thibs defense, and a well seasoned team.

And, I don't care what anyone thinks, Cade will be the best player in the series. He loves the Garden as well.

[Canadafan]

I'm just hoping we stay 7 or 8 so we get that 1 play-in game vs Heat or Magic and if we lose then we get another game vs the Hawks or Sixers or even Bulls and then win that. 8th seed vs JBs ex team the cavs. Orrrrr if we lost both play-in games we keep our lottery pick, win the lottery and get Cooper
But ya, staying 6th would also be nice i suppose

[Canadafan]

Read on Twitter

?t=M7ObiOcpNOTesVCX9LgJ1Q&s=19

Interesting little thread. AI predicts us to win 2030 title

[NYPiston]

Holland is 6'8. Theoretically if he puts on some mass, he could make sense as a PF long-term. I don't mind Tobias as our PF for this year and next and then kind of see from there. I also haven't given up on Tech. He just needs to find his shot again a bit more.

Holland doesn't look anywhere near 6'8 to me, seems more like 6'5 or 6'6

[LaSheed]

Holland is 6'8. Theoretically if he puts on some mass, he could make sense as a PF long-term. I don't mind Tobias as our PF for this year and next and then kind of see from there. I also haven't given up on Tech. He just needs to find his shot again a bit more.

Holland doesn't look anywhere near 6'8 to me, seems more like 6'5 or 6'6

It surprised me too. To the eye he looks like you said 6'5-6'6

[DetroitSho]

Holland is 6'8. Theoretically if he puts on some mass, he could make sense as a PF long-term. I don't mind Tobias as our PF for this year and next and then kind of see from there. I also haven't given up on Tech. He just needs to find his shot again a bit more.

Holland doesn't look anywhere near 6'8 to me, seems more like 6'5 or 6'6

It surprised me too. To the eye he looks like you said 6'5-6'6

Naw he's easily taller than Cade but I think he's legit 6'7 and nowhere near being a future PF.

Sent from my SM-S918U using RealGM mobile app

[LaSheed]

Holland doesn't look anywhere near 6'8 to me, seems more like 6'5 or 6'6

It surprised me too. To the eye he looks like you said 6'5-6'6

Naw he's easily taller than Cade but I think he's legit 6'7 and nowhere near being a future PF.

Sent from my SM-S918U using RealGM mobile app

Agreed. No PF for the young fella