I would think that Barkley knows they’ve been playing in Detroit for almost a decade but maybe not. It seems like most, if not every, time the Pistons have been on national tv over the last several years, it’s been a road game.
Regarding last night’s game, I liked that Brunson didn’t get a call every time he did his headjerk move. If we do match up with the Knicks, how that’s called will be key. He’s a great player but also a foul merchant.
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Playoff, the refs generally let things go which probably plays to the Pistons advantage because Cade doesn’t get a star treatment.
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Had to sit Killian Hayes because he’d make them too likely to win?
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I take it more as a tiny sliver of self-respect on the part of Jordy Fernandez. Pretty clear he’s going to try to win with the players available to him, its just that all the clubs are out of the bag now. I take this as “Killian is actually the 14th best player on this horriffic roster”
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To be fair, Ishbia was probably counting some Euro and G-League teams. Probably a few Big Ten GMs too.
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This Suns team has to be the biggest bust in history, setting aside whatever happens in Dallas
Definitely worse than the Durant Nets, who were at least good when everyone was playing
These guys stink when the big stars play!
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Ishbia probably thinks it’s a great team for 2K25.
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Serious question
What is Suns history like if they don’t lose game 7 at home to Dallas by like 700 points the year after they made the finals
Alternatively
What is Suns history like if Sarver isn’t outed as a sex pest
Shout out to John Duren and yes Malik Beasley is on the team.
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How much does the Beas knees get in the offseason?
7 largest single season improvements, with All-Stars added to the roster from prior year:
- 2008 Celtics: +42 (24 to 66) – Kevin Garnett & Ray Allen
- 1998 Spurs: +36 (20 to 56) – Tim Duncan & return of David Robinson
- 1990 Spurs: +35 (21 to 56) – David Robinson
- 2005 Suns: +33 (29 to 62) – Steve Nash
- 1980 Celtics: +32 (29 to 61) – Larry Bird
- 2025 Pistons: +30 (14 to 44)
- 1970 Bucks: +29 (27 to 56) – Lew Alcindor (now Kareem Abdul-Jabbar)
Would argue the Pistons are basically without precedent here (which goes to the Monty & Troy basketball terrorism talking point)
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Monty is a BT
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Lol, I just added the comment before seeing this
The writer says this, and I think it’s valid
That is the basis of Cade Cunningham’s Most Improved Player case and J.B. Bickerstaff’s Coach of the Year case. People want to apportion credit somewhere. But I’m not sure any individual deserves massive credit. The Pistons’ improvement is the confluence of so many medium factors.
Yes, Cade HAS improved. Yes, Bickerstaff IS good. But part of the story is also that Monty was HISTORICALLY AWFUL. Another part is playing Killian Hayes and James Wiseman and Marvin Bagley so much. Among others!
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A lot of things happened that led to the improvement.
- Cade picking up where he left off from the 2nd half of last season
- Duren improving on defense which is mostly effort level and is mostly healthy
- Beef playing at the 5 instead of the 4
- Malik, Tobi and THJ improved the team as competent NBA rotation players
- Monty is no longer the coach bc he’s a BT
- Weaver no longer making stupid GM moves
- No more Killian, Wiseman and Bagley!
- JB raised the team’s floor with competent coaching
The Pistons should’ve been a mid 30 win team last year with competent coaching and GM and that would’ve been a fair progression for the young core from bad to mediocre to good. Langdon said that the team being good has changed his plan and don’t plan on making moves like the Suns did. Just need to figure out how to get them from good to great.
Right - it’s like 50% affirmative things:
Cade 2025 >> Cade 2024
JB >> Monty
Center Beef >> PF Beef
Duren, Ausar a year older, a year better
but part of it is also simply just that the Pistons were unneccesarily bad last year based on factors my 15 year old could have fixed
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Ivey developed a consistent 3pt shot.
Pistons were relatively healthy and when players missed time they had players that could come in and be productive (Bball Paul, Sasser, Lindy Waters)