If Flip plays the starters 2 extra minutes per game for 75 games and we win homecourt, he can rest them like crazy down the stretch.

That's only an extra 150 minutes per man. It can be made up with 4 DNP CDs in the last 7 games.

There are a lot of ways to skin a cat. Right now the Pistons are winning and scaring a lot of teams. That's exactly what was needed.

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I wish I could have heard the Celtic announcers again this game... even though I can't stand them. It would have been really satisfying to hear them talking about how great the Celts were through 3 quarters and then hear the silence in the 4th.

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.

We had 3 days in-between games and another 3 for the next one ... no harm in giving the starters a couple extra minutes with the extra rest time available. We obviously needed them tonight. I agree the bench should get some more minutes, but I'm content with riding the streak and doing what works.

As for Darko, Flip made the effort to put him in the game as the first sub off the bench in the first quarter, and sure he made a nice move in the post, but he also lost the ball twice and was not aggressive on rebounds. He's still got learning to do. I thought his defense on Jefferson was pretty decent actually - he fought with him in the post before the ball got passed to him, and he made Jefferson reach for his shot (although not as much as he could have). He seemed concerned with not giving up a baseline drive, which led to being a step late on jumping to try and block the shot.

It was good seeing Darko in there early yesterday, but his timid defensive skills were exposed because the game still seems to be to fast for him. With Al Jefferson's hustle and speed, Darko appeared to be a step slow in guarding him and yes he needs to be more agressive in either stepping up to grab a board, a loose ball, and putting those long arms is someone face. More PT in the first part of the game will increase his confidence as well as get him more involved in the past face of the experienced players.

But I'm glad the Piston won again. For what I read CB had a scoring outburst on the third Q (didn't get to see the game ) and Arroyo's game on the 4th sealed the deal. Anyone up for trading him? .

actually darko played pretty good d on jefferson he just hit the shots. he was feeling it he also hit a shot on ben a few minutes later. darko was aggressive on the boards the first thing he did in the game was grab a board and take it right back up.

i think flip will start using his bench much more after our streak ends. but right now it doesn't make sense to mess up what we have going. i don't think darko should leap frog mcdyess but i think he should get some of mcdyess minutes because he's struggling with his shot. darko actually isn't struggling with his shot so i think running some plays for him would be a good thing.

its great that anyone of our starting 5 can step up big. many games you will not see everyone of the pistons struggling. man chauncey was crazy that 3rd quarter, ricky davis killed us in the 2nd too but we pulled off a win. i'm telling you that game felt much closer than 15 points.