Betrayer

Outside of last game, he's had a really good series. He's matched up against an All NBA player and played him at least even last night once again. And he's doing it on both ends.

Yes!!!! This team has cost me so many years with these close games. Did JB finally figure out that Ausar’s minutes need to mirror Brunson? We’ll find out Thursday. Let’s get one at home.

Why put Schroeder in there to defend? Bridges just shoots right over him like a road cone.

For a team that was great at challenges in the regular season I don’t understand what they’re doing in the playoffs.

You and me both.

We’re not calling that carry by Hart then? Ok. btw, this was a 10pt game when Ausar sat down. Now it’s 1.

At least don’t make it that obvious refs.

Officiating off to a great start.

Ausar comes out and the game swings just like that. All of a sudden Brunson is straight line driving to the rim, guys have to help, and then the defense is in rotation.

That’s because Ausar’s on the bench 🤣 Seriously though, crunch time isn’t really relevant because coaches can switch offense for defense on nearly every possession in the last 2 minutes. As for the rest of the 4th, it’s the same as the rest of the game. You need your guy who clamps up their best guy and gets you into your best offense - transition. Again, the numbers (facts) tell the story clearly. We can argue theory all day, but we don’t have to - the data is there.

Amen's handle is a bit better, but their numbers are nearly identical when you make the minutes/possessions match. Difference is Amen has a coach that's playing him 31 mpg.

The numbers don't lie. They're better on offense and way better on defense with him on the court. Why? Because the half-court offense is bad either way so the defensive stops and transition opportunities make a far bigger difference on the offense than that 1 extra average shooter. Also, the stats for Bruson when Ausar is on/off are bonkers. So, you're also making their best player completely inefficient. It's the reason the team magically started playing better when Ausar got healthy and Ivey went down to open up a slot in the starting lineup. This has been true all year. They're a bad half-court offense that becomes a decent offense when Ausar is in the lineup to get stops and give them transition opportunities.

Ku bringing in some of the numbers on the Ausar debate:

The NBA will facilitate him going to Miami for Herro and a single first rounder, like they did for the Lakers.

This is exactly it. They let a lot off-ball contact and paint contact go, but not jump shooters getting bodied.

JB's biggest failing this post-season has been limiting Ausar's minutes. This team turned a corner when Ausar was put in the starting lineup in early January and they won all season long by turning defense into offense. They aren't a team that can let you score and match you offense-for-offense in the half-court because they only have 1 All Star. We won Ausar's minutes by 8 points in this game. We made the run in the second half based on defense with Ausar on the court. Overall in the playoffs the Pistons are 13 points better on defense and 1 point better on offense when Ausar's on the floor. This is simple stuff that's apparent whether you're using the eye test or looking at analytics.

“Our bad. Enjoy the offseason.” What a joke, but totally on-brand for this series.

Wow. That’s a foul 100 percent of the time.

Hell of a finish to the quarter and Tobias came up big! Gotta be happy to only be down 7 when you played bad enough to be down by 20.

It’s the right play when the Knicks are trapping the screen, which they are quite often.

Learn to box out. Nobody finds their man before they stare up at the ball.

Can’t waste challenges like that. It’s weird because they were so good with them during the regular season. Turnovers are out of control. Getting blitzed.

A few things: After two good games, Harris had a rough one. Foul trouble didn’t help, but he just wasn’t on. However, he was a +10 in this game, not because he was playing great or even good, simply because without him we don’t have another PF on the roster. Size matters. Which brings me to my next point… JB needs to stop with this midget, no-defense lineup. I understand Tobias was in foul trouble for a time, but you can’t roll out Schroeder, Beasley, THJ, and Cade against the Knicks double big lineup. This team has won all year on its defense creating offense, not the other way around. Play Ausar at PF when Tobias is out, but get him more minutes. Maybe use Ron more. No wonder the Knicks won the blocks/steals stat, we were playing the no defense lineup a ton in the second half on a night where you couldn’t stop them from scoring. You have to turn them over and create easy offense. People are saying that Cade needs to step up, but this is how it goes when you only have one star. I saw a lot of doubles and he made the right play to pass out of it. Role players simply didn’t hit shots (especially in the second half when THJ went cold) and they don’t have a KAT to go to. What other top 6 team in either conference only has one All Star? They’ve over-performed their talent level and still have a chance, but we can’t expect Cade to be prime MJ in his first playoff series at age 23 with no help on the team and only getting 2 free throws from these refs. They finally got something going in the third passing it to Duren after the double team with Ausar diving in from the dunker spot. But then Duren picked up fouls guarding KAT and we saw no Ausar in the 4th which is mind boggling. Finally, Beasley needs to come out of his slump for this team to have any chance. THJ will disappear again next game and Schroeder will come back down to earth. Maybe Tobias plays better, but this is what role players are - inconsistent. That’s why they’re role players and not stars.

So many critical blown calls, starting with the KAT 2 hand shove to Ausar’s face, in a 2 pt game. Great job securing those ratings.

That was over and back. Great job refs.