Game 5 - Pistons@Knicks - 7:30pm ET

[MortSahlfan]

FanDuel
TNT/TRU/MAX

[LaSheed]

Obviously I'd love to extend the series. Let's go Pistons! Hoping for another fun competitive game.

Crazy series. Could easily be tied 2-2. Pistons could be up 3-1 & Knicks could've swept 4-0.

[tmorgan]

I’m a little pissed about the missed THJ call, but not that much. 4 good games. We’ve had our chances. This is exactly the kind of performance that you both learn from and can be somewhat satisfied with for a bunch of young guys.

[Canadafan]

It's time we unleash our secret weapon lmao. Fontecchio time baby! We could use him though when Tobias sits. We need the shooting. Holland hasn't given us anything, it's time to switch it up.

[LaSheed]

It's time we unleash our secret weapon lmao. Fontecchio time baby! We could use him though when Tobias sits. We need the shooting. Holland hasn't given us anything, it's time to switch it up.

I'll break my TV.

[Canadafan]

It's time we unleash our secret weapon lmao. Fontecchio time baby! We could use him though when Tobias sits. We need the shooting. Holland hasn't given us anything, it's time to switch it up.

I'll break my TV.

Same likely. He was brutal for us this season but we could use a spark and Holland hasn't been it. With Ausar and Duren out there we need someone that can knock down a 3 when Tobias sits. Not sure it's Fontecchio though lol.

[engelbert321]

Men, whatever happens, this was still a very successful season for us!

[chilluminati]

Lets hope the refs are awake an aware tonight, that's all we can ask for at this point.

Also, is there an uglier fanbase than NYK? I can't even talk about the games on the general board without some Knicks ball gargler getting upset and offended. I know some of you out there are good ones, but holy crap I was blindsided by the illogical fandom.

[whitehops]

Men, whatever happens, this was still a very successful season for us!

obviously want a win tonight but whatever the outcome is doesn't change that this season has been a huge success. actually wanting to watch your favourite team play is a massive improvement from the last few seasons.

[Mr Peanut]

Lets hope the refs are awake an aware tonight, that's all we can ask for at this point.

Also, is there an uglier fanbase than NYK? I can't even talk about the games on the general board without some Knicks ball gargler getting upset and offended. I know some of you out there are good ones, but holy crap I was blindsided by the illogical fandom.

They're a very sensitive bunch unfortunately. I'm sure that's not the case for all of them, but the more vocal ones on the GB won't let any post slip by that is even remotely critical of anyone on their team or any ref decisions in their favor.

Anyway, I feel like the events of last game probably galvanized the Knicks and sucked the life out of our squad and it's hard to not see the series being closed out here. Hope I'm wrong.

[Canadafan]

Lets hope the refs are awake an aware tonight, that's all we can ask for at this point.

Also, is there an uglier fanbase than NYK? I can't even talk about the games on the general board without some Knicks ball gargler getting upset and offended. I know some of you out there are good ones, but holy crap I was blindsided by the illogical fandom.

Same! Like for real they got issues hahaha

[NYPiston]

I’m a little pissed about the missed THJ call, but not that much. 4 good games. We’ve had our chances. This is exactly the kind of performance that you both learn from and can be somewhat satisfied with for a bunch of young guys.

4 competitive games but my concern is that it's largely been driven by the vets. The young guys haven't been good. Cade good but has struggled in the 4th each game really, Ausar and Duren not good for the most part, Holland invisible. It's fine since it's their first playoff but it's hard to take a ton of positive from this series in terms of young player performance. THJ, Harris and Schroder have really kept the Pistons afloat in these games which is great in the short term but these guys aren't long term solutions. Hopefully this is just a learning experience and the young core is much better next time they're in the playoffs.

[Cowology]

I’m a little pissed about the missed THJ call, but not that much. 4 good games. We’ve had our chances. This is exactly the kind of performance that you both learn from and can be somewhat satisfied with for a bunch of young guys.

4 competitive games but my concern is that it's largely been driven by the vets. The young guys haven't been good. Cade good but has struggled in the 4th each game really, Ausar and Duren not good for the most part, Holland invisible. It's fine since it's their first playoff but it's hard to take a ton of positive from this series in terms of young player performance. THJ, Harris and Schroder have really kept the Pistons afloat in these games which is great in the short term but these guys aren't long term solutions. Hopefully this is just a learning experience and the young core is much better next time they're in the playoffs.

Why would that be concerning? It's the EXACT thing you expect. It's the reason WHY you got those vets. And after doing exactly what was expected...you're "concerned"?

Step back and re-evaluate your expectations. It's not the teams fault you had unrealistic expectations for the young guys. That's 100% on you.

tmorgan is right. Some individual things to be a lil disgruntled over, but overall this has been a beneficial experience that we can hopefully grow from. The fact we've been in and had a chance to win every game should be more encouraging than discouraging because of the direction the team is trending.

[NYPiston]

Why would that be concerning? It's the EXACT thing you expect. It's the reason WHY you got those vets. And after doing exactly what was expected...you're "concerned"?

Step back and re-evaluate your expectations. It's not the teams fault you had unrealistic expectations for the young guys. That's 100% on you.

tmorgan is right. Some individual things to be a lil disgruntled over, but overall this has been a beneficial experience that we can hopefully grow from. The fact we've been in and had a chance to win every game should be more encouraging than discouraging because of the direction the team is trending.

I'm acknowledging that it's their first time in the playoffs so it's fine that they've struggled. I'm just saying that I wouldn't say that the performance of the young guys in this series is a sign of a team ready to take a bigger step next year. That remains to be seen IMO.
FTR, I fully expected this going into the Knicks series and, in fact, I'm pleasantly surprised that they've been as competitive as they've been. This season is a huge success no matter what happens tonight.

I guess I'll say that my concern is that two of the Pistons young core players in Ausar and Duren are complete non-factors offensively in crunch time and that's been exposed in this series with Ausar not even out there in late game situations and Duren out there mainly because Stew has been injured. Not sure how it's going to fit with those two long term.
Anyway, that's more of an offseason discussion so I'll drop it until then. For now, hopefully tonight isn't the last game of the season.

[ComboGuardCity]

Cade is having a historic first series so I think it’s safe to say on his current trajectory, a playoff leap next year is feasible.

Regardless, we are still in this year and I think we come out firing tonight, specifically Malik.

[GreekAlex]

Hopefully JB uses the Heat as an example of what not to do tonight.

[whitehops]

4 competitive games but my concern is that it's largely been driven by the vets. The young guys haven't been good. Cade good but has struggled in the 4th each game really, Ausar and Duren not good for the most part, Holland invisible. It's fine since it's their first playoff but it's hard to take a ton of positive from this series in terms of young player performance. THJ, Harris and Schroder have really kept the Pistons afloat in these games which is great in the short term but these guys aren't long term solutions. Hopefully this is just a learning experience and the young core is much better next time they're in the playoffs.

Why would that be concerning? It's the EXACT thing you expect. It's the reason WHY you got those vets. And after doing exactly what was expected...you're "concerned"?

Step back and re-evaluate your expectations. It's not the teams fault you had unrealistic expectations for the young guys. That's 100% on you.

tmorgan is right. Some individual things to be a lil disgruntled over, but overall this has been a beneficial experience that we can hopefully grow from. The fact we've been in and had a chance to win every game should be more encouraging than discouraging because of the direction the team is trending.

I'm acknowledging that it's their first time in the playoffs so it's fine that they've struggled. I'm just saying that I wouldn't say that the performance of the young guys in this series is a sign of a team ready to take a bigger step next year. That remains to be seen IMO.
FTR, I fully expected this going into the Knicks series and, in fact, I'm pleasantly surprised that they've been as competitive as they've been. This season is a huge success no matter what happens tonight.

I guess I'll say that my concern is that two of the Pistons young core players in Ausar and Duren are complete non-factors offensively in crunch time and that's been exposed in this series with Ausar not even out there in late game situations and Duren out there mainly because Stew has been injured. Not sure how it's going to fit with those two long term.
Anyway, that's more of an offseason discussion so I'll drop it until then. For now, hopefully tonight isn't the last game of the season.

i think a lot of fans of rebuilding teams have unreasonable expectations. highly drafted players are often shoe-horned into roles where they'll be the franchise player, and very few ever pan out. those that don't pan out have to change their entire game to find a role in the league. there's a reason why contending teams usually have one of the highest average ages in the league. just look at the knicks roster, their youngest starter is 27. the youngest player in their playoff rotation (mcbride) is older than cade. it's unusual for a contender to have more than one starter that is less than 25 years old so expecting a playoff team full of guys 25 and under is straight up unrealistic.

i think getting too attached to the players we drafted affects fans across all sports.

[hoophabit]

'Moving the goalposts' is a good characterization of this season. How many of us can find old posts where we state that to be satisfied it would take a season equal to what we've been treated to so far? Don't let this young team's limitations spoil the satisfaction of a surprisingly successful season. They're playing the Knicks very competitively with Stew lost at the worst possible time. Can't understand how anyone thinks expecting growth is unreasonable.
Still, it's not over yet. Go Pistons, make us proud, but if it can't be a win just don't 'do a Heat.'

[breezypeezy]

We will tie this series up back in LCA, its going 7 and this is only the 1st of 2 more times the tired Knicks will have to defend the onslaught on thier HC.

Are they up to it? We will know after Game 7, but im telling ya, they look very tired....
Now Cade otoh, he dont look tired at all to me.
Buckle up buttercups!

[catari11]

JB should have Beasely and THR on a short leash. If they're on from 3, try Fontecchio or Sasser. Couldn't hurt. Tec at least plays good D and rebounds. This whole series has a "what if" quality to it. Had Stew and Ivey been available, Pistons might've take this series in 6. Still, like most folks I can't complain given the vast improvement over last year. What remains to be seen is whether Trajan is ready to do what needs to be done: over the summer acquire an upgrade at the PF position, preferably a solid three point shooter and rebounder.