Game 4 - Pistons-Knicks - 1pm ET

[BadMofoPimp]

It's not an individual game, though, otherwise, they'd have kicked our ass every game.

I'll never get over this ****. Unless they come back and win 3 games in a row. I'm still pissed off with the 1988 NBA Finals.

1988 was a massive letdown.

[MotownMadness]

I don’t see it happening but it would be nice to win game 5 and get another home game

[VicVinegar]

Again, I’ll emphasize:

This core won 14 games last year.

And no, I’m not saying that in a “we should be grateful for what we have” sense. That’s not the point.

The point is we’re still working things out. You can’t shake off all of that in 10 months.

This is still about the long view. The fact that we made more progress than expected this year doesn’t fundamentally change that.

I'm with you. I'm not much for moral victories but being competitive all series against a roster like the Knicks should be considered something to be proud of, even if the series only goes 5 games. A 100% healthy Knick teams, mind you- versus us missing two rotational players. When the Pistons are eliminated, I don't even think I'm going to be too upset. I'm just going to be instantly looking forward to the start of next season - a feeling I haven't felt in a long time with this team. The team will get better. This is just one small, but painful, stepping stone to being a contender.

[Snakebites]

Again, I’ll emphasize:

This core won 14 games last year.

And no, I’m not saying that in a “we should be grateful for what we have” sense. That’s not the point.

The point is we’re still working things out. You can’t shake off all of that in 10 months.

This is still about the long view. The fact that we made more progress than expected this year doesn’t fundamentally change that.

I'm with you. I'm not much for moral victories but being competitive all series against a roster like the Knicks should be considered something to be proud of, even if the series only goes 5 games. A 100% healthy Knick teams, mind you- versus us missing two rotational players. When the Pistons are eliminated, I don't even think I'm going to be too upset. I'm just going to be instantly looking forward to the start of next season - a feeling I haven't felt in a long time with this team. The team will get better. This is just one small, but painful, stepping stone to being a contender.

Yeah, I’m not even saying this is or should be a moral victory.

But if someone is looking at this and not seeing potential to grow, I’m not sure what to tell you.

[pistons773]

Well this wasn’t knicks vs Cade

Dude. He had the game in his hand. Twice. And came up empty. Twice. 1 turnover. 1 missed point blank shot.

.

Still doesn’t negate the last second no call

https://www.espn.com/nba/story/_/id/44888482/karl-anthony-towns-jalen-brunson-lead-knicks-pistons

The refs admitted it was an error. "During live play, it was judged that Josh Hart made a legal defensive play," Guthrie acknowledged. "After postgame review, we observed that Hart makes body contact that is more than marginal to Hardaway Jr. and a foul should have been called."

[Mr Peanut]

Tough one. Obvious no-call that was game defining. But our premier player also missed a couple of key shots down the stretch and made a costly turnover. He (and the team) will learn from that though and come back better for it.

Difficult to not feel hard done by though. This series deserves to be 2-2 right now heading back to NY, not 3-1 with the potential for a gentleman's sweep.

[ComboGuardCity]

We have played too well to be headed to Cancun. Fully expect us to push to 7

[Rip32]

Until Cade gets a killer instinct, we'll continue to get bounced. Likeable guys usually don't have killer instincts. Now, can it be manufactured??? I'm not so sure.
Cade focus should be trying to bring a chip to detroit. F being the face of the nba etc. Win in detroit and the city will love you forever!!!!!

[GreekAlex]

Until Cade gets a killer instinct, we'll continue to get bounced. Likeable guys usually don't have killer instincts. Now, can it be manufactured??? I'm not so sure.
Cade focus should be trying to bring a chip to detroit. F being the face of the nba etc. Win in detroit and the city will love you forever!!!!!

You didn’t see the killer instinct after the game winner in Miami?

He’s developing it. There aren’t many 23 year olds doing what he does.

He will continue to improve and clean up his mistakes. Consider how much better he’s looked this season by just providing him with a band of cast-off shooters.

[Warspite]

1. Had Hardaway just shot the layup instead of dunking after the clock we still win.

2. In the end I believe this loss can be the best thing that happens to this team. The loss to the Celtics in 87 fueled the Bad Boys. The loss to the Nets in 03 did as well.

This is the 1st season in over a decade that +50% of Pistons games I have seen weren't summer league games. The future is bright, and we are coming out of the darkness.

Next time we see the Knicks in the playoffs It might be a 2-7 matchup with us being the higher seed.

[breezypeezy]

Well apparently I was wrong about Pistons in 6, it will now be Pistons in 7!!!!!!!!

[pistonsbball]

Really wanted to clear that homecourt playoff win now. Let's see how they play game 5 with backs to the wall and little expectation.

KAT getting denied time again at the rim was the worst thing that could've happened, guy just camped at the line after that. Typical heartbreaking loss for a young team earning their stripes.

Cade's learning.. only criticism I have is that he could've looked for his own shot earlier in the game, the seams in the defense were there.

[Moses ShamMoses]

I'd really like to see them find a way to win Game 5 in New York, if only so we can have 1 more playoff game in Detroit. I don't expect them to win the series I'm just not ready to be done with this season yet. New York has been a formidable opponent.

[Moses ShamMoses]

You can really see the difference in guys like Tobias, Schroder, and THJ playing with poise compared to the young guys. They just go about their business, hopefully this is the start of our young guys growing that poise as well that comes with playoff experience. Cade, Duren, Ausar, and Holland all had their fair share of wtf moments.

[joedumars1]

Hey guys it’s not setup. With that said, now
They have to come out and give no change the refs can make the decisions, oh wait they could if they let Brunson get ticky tack fouls, well damn.

Why didn’t they call a foul then review if it
Was or not? To easy? Lol

This is why Dan Campbell goes for the throat so the refs can’t decide the game, but basketball is
A little more difficult to do that.

It’s just crazy to me, but on to the next. Definitely toughen then up

[bstein14]

I'd take Font or Sasser for 6 minutes instead of Holland next game. Not that its a major difference but even a few points could be a factor.

Also, let BBall Paul get 10-12 minutes (5 to 6 per half) so Duren has more juice. Duren's energy levels have been worse in the 4th he was used to splitting time with Stew not being a 40 MPG player.

[Moses ShamMoses]

I'd take Font or Sasser for 6 minutes instead of Holland next game. Not that its a major difference but even a few points could be a factor.

Also, let BBall Paul get 10-12 minutes (5 to 6 per half) so Duren has more juice. Duren's energy levels have been worse in the 4th he was used to splitting time with Stew not being a 40 MPG player.

Agree on Sasser getting some minutes. He's been pretty good in limited action and probably deserves a shake and a dose of playoff experience. Holland hasn't been good enough and he's already gotten his.

[smann7]

Until Cade gets a killer instinct, we'll continue to get bounced. Likeable guys usually don't have killer instincts. Now, can it be manufactured??? I'm not so sure.
Cade focus should be trying to bring a chip to detroit. F being the face of the nba etc. Win in detroit and the city will love you forever!!!!!

This is a clown take, every great player in the history of the nba has missed potential game winning shots. It’s having the confidence to take those shots that separate them.

[Laimbeer]

It's not an individual game, though, otherwise, they'd have kicked our ass every game.

I'll never get over this ****. Unless they come back and win 3 games in a row. I'm still pissed off with the 1988 NBA Finals.

1988 was a massive letdown.

I'd forgotten how painful playoff basketball can be.

[JLiv]

After 18 hours of being mad… I have now realized we don’t get Cade’s legendary game 7 in the garden without losing 3 games first