Betrayer

Cade is wide open at the elbow over and over but he’s reluctant to take that shot way too often this year. The downside of analytics. That’s his shot and it would bring the big up to contest so he can make the pass over the top next time.

Once again, Robinson in and Duren sits. You don’t need Duren out there when KAT’s in the game because Harris is guarding him. You need him when Mitch is in there.

Not sure if he’s just worn down or what, but he looks like he’s playing an all-star game out there or something. No urgency and just letting the game happen rather than being aggressive on either end.

He’s the only one making anything happen. Rebounds, steals, drawing fouls, playing defense. If the other starters had 50% of his effort we’d be fine.

Ugh. Here we go again.

Waiting for Cade to wake up on defense today. He just looks tired on defense and box outs.

Ausar continues to make things happen whenever he’s on the court. He better get more minutes this half.

And they’re still getting beat back on defense. That’s just hustle. They’re about to dig another hole.

Bad start already. Come on!

No joke. He’s licking his chops every time he sees Schroeder and just takes him to the post to bend him over again and again.

Wow. Beasley showed up big time and they have a lead at the half! This, despite absolutely horrendous lineup decisions by JB: —Ausar seemingly on opposite minutes from Brunson. Huh? —NY goes to double bigs and that’s when you have both Harris and Duren resting. Huh? Then you bring Duren back in after they sit Robinson. —Too much THJ + Beasley. It’s one or the other.

Schroeder down. Cade needs to play the rest of the game now.

Defense is lacking, so let’s sub out Ausar first. Yea, that helped.

Maybe they burned it all to stay alive in the last game because they’re looking lost and tired today.

They look tight again. Turnovers rearing their head. Good timeout to calm things down.

Apparently he and his crew call a lot of fouls. Saw a graphic on Reddit that showed them in the "very high" bracket for blowing their whistle. That doesn't bode well for the Pistons when you have the ultimate flopper on the floor. Ausar's minutes may be limited by fouls, not by JB. Duren could have issues with a lot of whistles as well. I hope Stew is playing.

Glad it went up from 20, but if it were me I would've mirrored him to Brunson at about 36 minutes. What JB can't do is continue to have Beasley and THJ on the court at the same time, especially with Schroder. That lineup just gets killed. Another thing JB should do is consider subbing Duren out early since Tobias is guarding KAT anyway. That way Duren won't need his rest right at the same time Mitch Robinson comes in. You've got to have Duren out there the entire time Robinson is on the court because nobody else is big enough to keep him off the glass.

Maybe JB needs to resort to Tibbs strategy and just ride the starters for 40+ minutes tonight.

Minnesota is tough to root for, but I was happy to see the Lakers go down in flames. Now hopefully Denver and Houston can send Harden and Draymond to Cancun next.

I'm ok with that. The team improved greatly, but Cade was Cade last year too. Just nobody was watching because we were terrible. His stats went up a notch this year, but he was already a #1 pick that was knocking on the door of being an All-Star. This award is for guys like Ausar next year when he shows what he can do with 30 mpg or maybe what Jaden Ivey was doing this year before he went down with the injury.

Could've stopped at "Shaq is a clown." The show was so much better before they added him.

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.