Seems to me that you are both right. When DMC entered the game last night, at a time when no Piston was exactly doing well, he got an offensive board with a bucket. Probably feeling good about then. Why not run a play for him to get another bucket.

Instead, when he let his man get a basket or two, just like the other Pistons were doing, they jerk him out right away.

Of course he is playing less aggressive defense because he knows his minutes will be very limited and he cannot afford to take chances that might result in his being pulled even sooner. CB says he should not worry about his fouls but I would think that is easier said than done.

I wonder too, if playing the second unit a while in the second quarter would have resulted in the Pistons being any worse off than they were. I realize that this is hindsight, but he manages to play the other members of the second unit.

Micro, I am not a team conditioning coach but I think that there may be a difference in playing the guys shorter minutes throughout the season and playing them too many minutes during the majority of the season and then resting them a few games at the end. For one thing, during those heavy minutes for game after game, they would be susceptable to injuries that might not heal in a couple of game. Just a thought; I have no medical education. And playing the second unit more during just the last few games is not the same as playing them a few more minutes during the majority of the season.

We kept the other streak alive last night, too. Playing Darko a few minutes did not result in a Piston loss.