Game 4: Pistons-Wizards - Ballys PLUS+ - 7 PM EST

[MortSahlfan]

I'm recording channels 707 and 901 just in case... I've been up since 4am, thinking someone else would post the game thread... I must have food poisoning or something -- just want some pre-game talk... Got a long way to go, but it's nice we have a game tomorrow. I looked at the ESPN Injury Report, and besides Burks and Bagley, everyone else will be suited. Maybe we'll see Noel tonight?

I hope the guys can play a good game on both ends, share the ball, don't hold it too long.... play hard... WIN!

[bstein14]

I'm recording channels 707 and 901 just in case... I've been up since 4am, thinking someone else would post the game thread... I must have food poisoning or something -- just want some pre-game talk... Got a long way to go, but it's nice we have a game tomorrow. I looked at the ESPN Injury Report, and besides Burks and Bagley, everyone else will be suited. Maybe we'll see Noel tonight?

I hope the guys can play a good game on both ends, share the ball, don't hold it too long.... play hard... WIN!

Burks and Bagley are still the only two guys on the injury report. Im wondering if we'll see Noel in this one, or if he is simply just out of the rotation for a bit until we get a big in foul trouble.

[zeebneeb]

Game 4 of the 10 game experiment for myself. If Casey sticks with the same lineup for all ten games I know he's not really interested in winning, or the mandate was the same as last year(get a high pick)and I can then move on, and watch other teams, and wait until next year.

I really, really wanted to go to a game this year, but early returns are not good.

Let's see what highschool coach has for us tonight.

[flow]

Game 4 of the 10 game experiment for myself. If Casey sticks with the same lineup for all ten games I know he's not really interested in winning, or the mandate was the same as last year(get a high pick) and I can then move on, and watch other teams, and wait until next year.

I really, really wanted to go to a game this year, but early returns are not good.

Let's see what high school coach has for us tonight.

That's what you'll think? That Casey is merely pretending to suck because he either doesn't want to win or is being ordered not to?

Man, do I have some land for you. Great bargain. Hit me up as soon as possible.

[zeebneeb]

Game 4 of the 10 game experiment for myself. If Casey sticks with the same lineup for all ten games I know he's not really interested in winning, or the mandate was the same as last year(get a high pick) and I can then move on, and watch other teams, and wait until next year.

I really, really wanted to go to a game this year, but early returns are not good.

Let's see what high school coach has for us tonight.

That's what you'll think? That Casey is merely pretending to suck because he either doesn't want to win or is being ordered not to?

Man, do I have some land for you. Great bargain. Hit me up as soon as possible.

You honestly think mandates from the top of organizations don't happen? If that's your argument, well, good luck with that.

I'll happily buy that land off of you, as I'm sure it's gonna be priced well below market value.

[Manocad]

Game 4 of the 10 game experiment for myself. If Casey sticks with the same lineup for all ten games I know he's not really interested in winning, or the mandate was the same as last year(get a high pick) and I can then move on, and watch other teams, and wait until next year.

I really, really wanted to go to a game this year, but early returns are not good.

Let's see what high school coach has for us tonight.

That's what you'll think? That Casey is merely pretending to suck because he either doesn't want to win or is being ordered not to?

Man, do I have some land for you. Great bargain. Hit me up as soon as possible.

I'll bet my house against that land that "load managing"/"leg contusion"-ing players last year down the stretch in what by probably anyone's account was a "don't win games" move was NOT Casey's call. He may have supported it and wanted it, but there is no way I'll be convinced that it's the coach who decides when and when not to tank.

[Kalamazoo317]

There's a difference between "tanking" and giving the young guys a long leash to make mistakes and grow. This is a developmental season still and we'll be doing plenty of the latter without it meaning we're doing the former. If we were truly tanking, we wouldn't have made the Bogie trade.

[flow]

Game 4 of the 10 game experiment for myself. If Casey sticks with the same lineup for all ten games I know he's not really interested in winning, or the mandate was the same as last year(get a high pick) and I can then move on, and watch other teams, and wait until next year.

I really, really wanted to go to a game this year, but early returns are not good.

Let's see what high school coach has for us tonight.

That's what you'll think? That Casey is merely pretending to suck because he either doesn't want to win or is being ordered not to?

Man, do I have some land for you. Great bargain. Hit me up as soon as possible.

You honestly think mandates from the top of organizations don't happen? If that's your argument, well, good luck with that.

I'll happily buy that land off of you, as I'm sure it's gonna be priced well below market value.

My argument is as follows:

1. Casey is a sh*t coach regardless of whether the front office wants him to be.

2. Casey is playing the lineup he's playing either because, A) He believes that's his best starting lineup, OR B) He feels that those are the 5 who deserve, or are owed, starting spots. There is no C).

Casey is not trying to lose. And he's not trying to facilitate losing in any way.

[Manocad]

There's a difference between "tanking" and giving the young guys a long leash to make mistakes and grow. This is a developmental season still and we'll be doing plenty of the latter without it meaning we're doing the former. If we were truly tanking, we wouldn't have made the Bogie trade.

I don't think anyone is disputing that. The issue here is questioning not putting young players in roles where they may be most successful individually, but also may be in the best role to help the team. I'd LOVE to see a nice long leash on the lineup of Cade, Ivey, Bey, Stew and Duren with Bojan being the super sixth man.

[flow]

Game 4 of the 10 game experiment for myself. If Casey sticks with the same lineup for all ten games I know he's not really interested in winning, or the mandate was the same as last year(get a high pick) and I can then move on, and watch other teams, and wait until next year.

I really, really wanted to go to a game this year, but early returns are not good.

Let's see what high school coach has for us tonight.

That's what you'll think? That Casey is merely pretending to suck because he either doesn't want to win or is being ordered not to?

Man, do I have some land for you. Great bargain. Hit me up as soon as possible.

I'll bet my house against that land that "load managing"/"leg contusion"-ing players last year down the stretch in what by probably anyone's account was a "don't win games" move was NOT Casey's call. He may have supported it and wanted it, but there is no way I'll be convinced that it's the coach who decides when and when not to tank.

Agree.

[breezypeezy]

I dont begrudge athletes making big bucks. That said why cannot Burkes (and a few others) be conditioned and prepared by the beginning of the season?
Its not that much to expect, we demand as much from HS Varsity players all over the country.

[Sort]

Pistons don't need to intentionally tank with this roster. It'll happen all on its own. There's definitely potential for the pieces to click and the Pistons to surprise some folks, but it is certainly not with this starting lineup. Bey and Bojan? I agree that Bojan should be a supersub and provide some scoring to help Killian.

I'm somewhat curious about why Noel hasn't played. Pistons have Beef Stew out of position and need more defense. Keeping Duren at twenty minutes a night and playing off the bench makes too much sense developmentally. So why isn't the most logical choice to bring Noel into the starting lineup? Is he injured or not? Pistons need another lob threat and real rim protection.

[Snakebites]

I don't think the team ever goes into a season planning to tank from the start.

I do think that, for the last 2 years, once it's become crystal clear that this team will not be competitive, that we've moved in that direction later in the season.

But I genuinely do believe we try to win at the beginning. We just haven't been any good.

This year? You can quibble about Casey's decisions all you want but this is an inexperienced, incomplete, and unbalanced roster that, IMO, has performed within reasonable expectations so far. I hope it gets better, but I'm not surprised by this outcome and I don't think anyone is deliberately managing this team to lose.

[whitehops]

This year? You can quibble about Casey's decisions all you want but this is an inexperienced, incomplete, and unbalanced roster that, IMO, has performed within reasonable expectations so far. I hope it gets better, but I'm not surprised by this outcome and I don't think anyone is deliberately managing this team to lose.

it's kind of hard to read some of the comments tbh. there were so many conversations and debates over the summer about whether we should bring in quality free agents, try to make a push to be more competitive, etc. a lot of people wanted us to stay the course and develop the young guys. now those same people aren't happy that we look bad and are bashing casey's lineups as if our roster has a magical rotation that would lead to wins and casey just opts not to use it.

- lack of skill
- lack of experience
- roster holes

that is a perfect recipe for a sub-30 win season.

[MortSahlfan]

We got the #1 pick and selected Cade.... This year, we got the 5th pick, and got Ivey, so I imagine we'll get someone good in next year's draft, but we need to start developing a winning mentality.

[zeebneeb]

I hard disagree that this roster is unbalanced. Inexperienced, and young, absolutely.

This team has guards, forwards, and bigmen. There are no roster problems. Now, properly utilizing those assets, is the problem.

Cade
Ivey
Bojan
Stewart
Noel

That is a great mix of veterans, and youth, and has every component of a well rounded, and balanced starting lineup.

Interior presence
Vertical threat
Spacing/shooting
Lane penetration
Passing

No gaping holes, or obvious flaws. Now that we know Duren is ready to go out of the gate;

Cade
Ivey
Bojan
Stewart
Duren

You can also go with;

Cade
Ivey
Bojan/Bey
Livers
Duren/Noel

This is not an unbalanced roster, it's just not being properly utilized, as of now. Hopefully Casey realizes it, tonight.

[Spider156]

Game 4 of the 10 game experiment for myself. If Casey sticks with the same lineup for all ten games I know he's not really interested in winning, or the mandate was the same as last year(get a high pick) and I can then move on, and watch other teams, and wait until next year.

I really, really wanted to go to a game this year, but early returns are not good.

Let's see what high school coach has for us tonight.

That's what you'll think? That Casey is merely pretending to suck because he either doesn't want to win or is being ordered not to?

Man, do I have some land for you. Great bargain. Hit me up as soon as possible.

You honestly think mandates from the top of organizations don't happen? If that's your argument, well, good luck with that.

I'll happily buy that land off of you, as I'm sure it's gonna be priced well below market value.

I believe these are the options for all to choose what to believe.
1. Stewart deserves the first nod to start as he is the oldest (surprise) and healthiest
2. Duren makes a lot of rookie mistakes, missed assignments, fouls, he's not there yet trust me. What's 10 games off the bench? Nothing. He deserves half a season.
3. We suck at scoring already, we're sort of forced to play this lineup and part of the benefit of having cade and ivey are they are great rebounders for guards.
4. There could be a mandate to lose absolutely that's realistic and if that's the case then Casey really deserves another extension. In my opinion he deserves this year and a promotion. I personally want Atkinson or Udoka the most. Would love Vogel.
Our problem is simple. No inside presence on offense and defense. The solution is also simple, start Duren. Everyone knows it'll happen eventually. The same happened to Drummond first season I remember.

[zeebneeb]

Here we go, same damn lineup.

Stubborn as hell.

[ElectricMayhem]

Three straight wide wide wide open 3s given to Porzingis. Is that the game plan?

[zeebneeb]

Horrendous defense thus far.