Everybody wants Flip to crack the whip, but this is what happens sometimes. Period. A home team plays inspired without its leaders, while another team playing out the tail end of a busy stretch before the All-Star Game struggles after a long hot streak.

So now there's a coaching crisis? Lack of coaching time, maybe, since practices are hard to come by with this kind of schedule.

And overconfidence, sure, of the same kind shown by the pitchfork-wielding fans who a few hours ago were assuming a blowout.

But this is a rivalry game against a team that runs the same micro-managed sets over and over again, so you have to actually beat them instead of waiting for them to screw up at the end. (Remember? We used to be these guys.) All the earmarks of an upset were there, so I for one ain't gonna mind too much. Truth is, losses like this can do the team more good than wins such as the one against Philadelphia.

Everybody, including the Pistons, should probably just chill and watch the Super Bowl.