4/19/26 6:30PM NBA Playoffs Rd 1 Gm 1 Magic @ Pistons

[buddha]

Detroit is the first #1 seed in 27 years to never have a lead in game one of the opening series.

[Deleterious]

Cade started slow but finished really strong.  39 points on 61% TS% is a fantastic game.  Only 3 TO's 10-11 from the line.  His defense was a bit iffy now and then.  Not sure if you can ask him to do much more.

Someone else is going to have to step up for them.  If Duren really is a max player he needs to be averaged 20+ points and 10+ rebounds per game.  Oh, and not get out played by Wendall Carter.

Thompson played 6 minutes in the 3rd quarter and 3 in the 4th.  Jenkins played 16 minutes in that time.

Orlando had 54 points in the paint to Detroit's 34.  

 

[Betrayer]

1 hour ago, Deleterious said:

3 of the 5 starters were useless.  People will look at Harris with 17, but he needed 15 shots to get it, that's not good.

The 4th starter was limited in minutes by the coach for some reason.  Ausar at 25 minutes is an absolute joke.

Jenkins was awful the entire game.  Couldn't score, didn't defend well.  Shot 50% from the line.

Cad and Harris were the only two players in double digits for scoring.  Two players.

Coaching was terrible.  Dumb rotations, not challenging at the right time, and just bizarre strategy.  Bane and Suggs both had 3 fouls early in the third quarter.  They should have put those guys in some sort of PnR situation every time down the court.  I can barely remember them doing that at all.  Suggs picked up his 5th and they still didn't go at him.  Best case he fouls out.  Worst case he gives up a soft hoop not wanting to get #6.  Either way, you win.  Horrific coaching not going after those guys.

 

 

All of this plus more.

Javonte only plays 5 minutes in this game even though he and Ausar were the only spark in the 1st half. He had 2 steals and was +4 on the court. Yet Tobias gets 36 minutes going 1-7 from three and 5-15 from the field with 3 turnovers and can't guard anyone. To make it more painful Tobias' missed threes were from the corners...y'know, the spot where Javonte shoots 50%.

Stew with only 19 minutes in a game where JD is absolute garbage is a crime almost as bad as Ausar only getting 25 minutes. JD with 33 minutes and only 8 point and 7 rebounds. He had 3 turnovers, couldn't guard anyone, and was a team low -21. Meanwhile Stew was a +6 in his minutes.

We knew this was coming from JB in the playoffs. Wasted a 39 pt game from Cade.

[papalawrence]

B ball Paul should have been given some time. Their D seemed to take JD out of his game. If they lose this series JD isn't getting a max. I do think the time off wasn't ideal. I'm still 80% confident they will take this series. Orlando is a tougher match-up for Detroit than Charlotte. Bane is going to have a huge game at some point. 

[Sports_Freak]

Losing home court advantage on the first game of the first round is a possible way to lose this series. Orlando only needs to win their home games and now that they've shown they can win in Detroit, even the next 3 possible games here are questionable, even if somehow we do win one in Florida. And we have to wait until Wednesday for the 2nd game, stupid scheduling.

[Deleterious]

Ausar Thompson was named one of the three finalists for DPOY.  

[Hongbit]

2 minutes ago, Deleterious said:

Ausar Thompson was named one of the three finalists for DPOY.  

It sucks that we have to imagine how good he would be playing 33 minutes a night and guarding the top player most of the 4th quarter.  

[buddha]

We all said "duren has to show it in the playoffs.  regular season games when the other team is playing 3/5ths of their lineup and not trying is not a good measure."

welp.  not off to a great start.

its only one game, but someone else is going to have to step it up.  tobias harris is not the #2 guy on a championship team.  duren has to be.

Edited 5 hours ago by buddha

[Betrayer]

Not sure if the postgame I listened to was a complete video, but from what I saw not a single question was asked of JB or Ausar about his minutes.

You have a top 3 finalist for Defensive Player of the Year and nobody who's job it is to ask questions thinks it's important to ask why he only played 25 minutes in Game 1 of the NBA playoffs?

Insanity, incompetence, or trying to ingratiate themselves with the organization. You pick.

[buddha]

2 hours ago, Betrayer said:

Not sure if the postgame I listened to was a complete video, but from what I saw not a single question was asked of JB or Ausar about his minutes.

You have a top 3 finalist for Defensive Player of the Year and nobody who's job it is to ask questions thinks it's important to ask why he only played 25 minutes in Game 1 of the NBA playoffs?

Insanity, incompetence, or trying to ingratiate themselves with the organization. You pick.

ausar played 9 second half minutes.  jenkins played 16.

he's looking for shooting to spread out orlando, and since his boss refused to get him any shooting, he's turning to a g-league player to get it (because duncan or huerter or lavert (!) were giving us nothing).

as most knowledgeable pistons fans will attest, this team scores off its defense.  when you take ausar away in some desperate search for shooting/spacing, you are playing away from your strengths.

out.  coached.

[Deleterious]

The Pistons need more players that can get their own shot.  Orlando shot 29% from three yesterday and their offense didn't struggle like the Pistons did.  Because 3 of their 5 starters can get their own shot.  We need more guys that can create.  

[buddha]

Again, everyone (not on this site) seems to be acting surprised that this team has no reliable outside shooting and no creators not named cade cunningham.  they brought in caris lavert to "create" for god's sake.

lets see if duncan and/or huerter can get going in game 2.  or tobias.  they have to spread the floor cade to operate and duren to be effective rolling.