Comments on: Did the Pistons tank last night?

By: hair chalk

hair chalk — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 03:41:52 +0000

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By: Detroit’s crazy week is typical of the NBA’s strange, disappointing season

Detroit’s crazy week is typical of the NBA’s strange, disappointing season — Tue, 24 Apr 2012 06:26:51 +0000

[...] around. The team gave up, in Lawrence Frank’s public estimation. The team purposely tanked, to hear Dan Feldman of Piston Powered recall it. Tayshaun Prince and Ben Wallace sat, to rest veteran legs in a grueling season. Also, the Hawks [...]

By: tarsier

tarsier — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 21:34:58 +0000

“obviously has had a lasting mental affect on him”

How exactly is that obvious? I would not typically expect that to be the case for most people. Nobody associated with the Pistons has said anything along those lines. There are all sorts of reasons for a bad game. Missing a couple crunch time free throws a few games back seems like one of the worst possible explanations.

By: gordbrown

gordbrown — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 18:17:55 +0000

Should clarify. I don’t believe there is anything wrong with Stuckey’s head or his confidence or whatever. Appears to me the problem is in his legs/feet/below the waste. His problem is physical and I can appreciate he doesn’t want to aggravate whatever the problem is. He did seem to push the ball when he had to and pulled in at least one nice rebound, so it wasn’t effort.

By: rick77

rick77 — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:56:42 +0000

Stuck just needs to get his confidence back after scoring 32 against Chicago and missing 5 out of 18 free throws, tow out of four in the last minute or so that would have sealed the game obviously has had a lasting mental affect on him. I don’t know why people forget these things and only harp on the negative as if that game didnt take place. The guy also got knocked in the throat and had a brief scare with his ankle. What are the expectations of the man? He had a bad game just like the rest of the team. The issue everyone should have is whats up with Daye and his child like reactions after not making plays,missing assignments, and missed free throws. His body language shows me that he is not hungry as the other players and that he probably wont get it unless his opportunity is truly in danger. The problem is this is a mans game and they dont have time to wait for a boy to turn into a man.

By: vic

vic — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:52:05 +0000

i dont think they were tanking, I think they just went too far with their experimentation. It didn’t look like the coach was happy about it.

Tayshaun and Ben Wallace are still the best defensive players on the team. The least you could do is replace Tay with jerebko, not Daye. Experiments are best done one variable at a time, right?

By: Dandresden

Dandresden — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:39:31 +0000

Also not to be discounted: goodwill is a buffoon.

By: G

Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:22:01 +0000

There’s a difference between taking a schedule loss and tanking. The Pistons are playing 3 games in 3 days, 1 against a playoff team and 2 games against lottery teams. If Frank puts out a sub-optimal lineup against the playoff team to keep his better players rested so they’ll have a better chance against teams they’re more likely to beat. How is that tanking?
Tanking is a concerted effort to improve draft position by losing as much as possible, usually by shutting down one or more of your best players due to dubious injuries. Cleveland and Minnesota are 2 teams the Pistons would be “competing” with for a higher pick and you’re suggesting that increasing the odds of beating them by resting players against a superior team is tanking?

By: Al

Al — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 16:08:08 +0000

Agreed on Daye and the heat, there is something about high caliber teams that allow players to give a better performance. If he could just channel that type of focus and demeanor for all games would be great. We’ve seen what he can bring to the table so its worth to give him a shot. I would hate to see another Amir or affalo situation go down smh

By: Al

Al — Thu, 19 Apr 2012 15:58:24 +0000

Its hard to say somewhat because everyone knows the season is over so why not give a struggling guy a chance to gain confidence and PT especially if he is supposed to be apart of the future with the organization going forward. Now Stuckey doing what he did out there was another story. Had he finished the game with say 7-10 assist then it might not have been so obvious. He has been so injury prone of late why even risk the chance of a serious one if he wasnt gonna even attempt to be a factor on the floor. The lineups were horrific, particularly the combinations, so im not sure what Frank was looking for, maybe weeding out the players who just dont fit certain schemes??? Overall, another painful Pistons game to watch last night. The effort and players must have still been on the plane in Detroit…