#72 - Pistons-Pelicans - 3pm ET

[MortSahlfan]

FSN

The "should be win" games are the ones I worry about...

THJ is OUT

Watch on YouTube

[BadMofoPimp]

Pelicans injury report: Trey Murphy (right shoulder torn labrum), Brandon Boston (left ankle stress reaction), Herb Jones (right shoulder torn rotator cuff), Dejounte Murray (right Achilles rupture) and Lester Quinones.

Having Murphy out will help.

[MortSahlfan]

Cade is a late scratch.
Must suck for anyone who bought tickets and made a sojourn to Detroit.

[Billl]

No cade. No thj. Gonna need to bring some energy

[MortSahlfan]

no Zion. Then again, he's ALWAYS questionable.

Hope this game isn't boring. Just win.

[Billl]

lol George! “As usual, no Zion Williamson tonight”

[Cowology]

FSN

The "should be win" games are the ones I worry about...

THJ is OUT

Watch on YouTube

There may be a slight paradigm shift occurring.

It used to be that at a certain point in the season there was a clear divide; teams competing for the playoffs and teams who were competing for lottery odds. In a normal year that would mean a large number of teams deliberately rolling out lineups they expected to lose games. Youth movements, phantom injuries, etc. Some franchises were so bold as to proclaim their intentions to build through the draft, which singled a clear and deliberate attempt to lose games in order to improve lottery odds. In bigger years (LBJ, Wemby, etc) the tanking was even more widespread and even bolder in nature.

The point is, later into the season there were a larger number of teams deliberately trying to lose games and the bottom feeders were especially terrible. It's easy to think that is still the case based on how difficult it was for us to win the past few years, but overall the league has shifted.

Now, a larger number of teams are attempting to remain competitive later into the season. Part of that is attributed to the Play-In keeping more teams in the hunt late. The other significant part is was the re-calibration of Lottery Odds which had a flattening effect across the board. The Pistons actually served as Example A for why tanking year after year was more risky than ever.

At the end of the day it may not be worth chasing the #1 pick. Even those bottom tier teams that are sure to be headed for the lottery are still competing for roster spots and focused on true development, and then allowing the chips to fall where they may. The Wiz aren't that same roll-over team they would have been 5 yrs ago.

I'm not saying this just to dismiss our recent losses, but I think you need to sort of also give those teams credit. The Wiz won a few games recently. They are playing better. The same can be said for some of those other "struggling" teams. The Mavs still showed out. It's different now.

[MortSahlfan]

lol George! “As usual, no Zion Williamson tonight”

George used to say similar stuff about Kahwi, probably thinking "I'm almost 80 and work harder than you!"

[MortSahlfan]

3 fouls on Ausar? C'mon man.

[smann7]

What’s the reason Cade is out?

[Billl]

What’s the reason Cade is out?

[MortSahlfan]

What’s the reason Cade is out?

Probably rest since this is the team we beat by 46, but we did something similar to the Wiz and then lost the 2nd game against them.

And probably to avoid being hounded by Alvarado.

[guldakot]

Jeez are they trying to put Holland in a neck cast? Thats twice around the neck and head.

[Cowology]

Ron so dramatic lol. Love his aggression though.

[Uncle Mxy]

Ron so dramatic lol. Love his aggression though.

Give Holland some babies to eat!

[Fennis Dembo]

Blaha thought that save was a shot.

[MortSahlfan]

Boring game, but at least Pistons are up.

[Uncle Mxy]

They are?

[VicVinegar]

A month away from the playoffs and we're just not playing good ball. Even with no Cade, we shouldn't be losing to New Orleans. Losses to Dallas without AD, a terrible Washington team, squeaking by a Miami team on an 8 game losing streak. They have not beat a team with a winning record since Boston February 26th. This is not how you want to roll into the playoffs.

[guldakot]

Holland in the open court will eventually be a menace.