Betrayer

The NBA will facilitate him going to Miami for Herro and a single first rounder, like they did for the Lakers.

This is exactly it. They let a lot off-ball contact and paint contact go, but not jump shooters getting bodied.

JB's biggest failing this post-season has been limiting Ausar's minutes. This team turned a corner when Ausar was put in the starting lineup in early January and they won all season long by turning defense into offense. They aren't a team that can let you score and match you offense-for-offense in the half-court because they only have 1 All Star. We won Ausar's minutes by 8 points in this game. We made the run in the second half based on defense with Ausar on the court. Overall in the playoffs the Pistons are 13 points better on defense and 1 point better on offense when Ausar's on the floor. This is simple stuff that's apparent whether you're using the eye test or looking at analytics.

“Our bad. Enjoy the offseason.” What a joke, but totally on-brand for this series.

Wow. That’s a foul 100 percent of the time.

Hell of a finish to the quarter and Tobias came up big! Gotta be happy to only be down 7 when you played bad enough to be down by 20.

It’s the right play when the Knicks are trapping the screen, which they are quite often.

Learn to box out. Nobody finds their man before they stare up at the ball.

Can’t waste challenges like that. It’s weird because they were so good with them during the regular season. Turnovers are out of control. Getting blitzed.

A few things: After two good games, Harris had a rough one. Foul trouble didn’t help, but he just wasn’t on. However, he was a +10 in this game, not because he was playing great or even good, simply because without him we don’t have another PF on the roster. Size matters. Which brings me to my next point… JB needs to stop with this midget, no-defense lineup. I understand Tobias was in foul trouble for a time, but you can’t roll out Schroeder, Beasley, THJ, and Cade against the Knicks double big lineup. This team has won all year on its defense creating offense, not the other way around. Play Ausar at PF when Tobias is out, but get him more minutes. Maybe use Ron more. No wonder the Knicks won the blocks/steals stat, we were playing the no defense lineup a ton in the second half on a night where you couldn’t stop them from scoring. You have to turn them over and create easy offense. People are saying that Cade needs to step up, but this is how it goes when you only have one star. I saw a lot of doubles and he made the right play to pass out of it. Role players simply didn’t hit shots (especially in the second half when THJ went cold) and they don’t have a KAT to go to. What other top 6 team in either conference only has one All Star? They’ve over-performed their talent level and still have a chance, but we can’t expect Cade to be prime MJ in his first playoff series at age 23 with no help on the team and only getting 2 free throws from these refs. They finally got something going in the third passing it to Duren after the double team with Ausar diving in from the dunker spot. But then Duren picked up fouls guarding KAT and we saw no Ausar in the 4th which is mind boggling. Finally, Beasley needs to come out of his slump for this team to have any chance. THJ will disappear again next game and Schroeder will come back down to earth. Maybe Tobias plays better, but this is what role players are - inconsistent. That’s why they’re role players and not stars.

So many critical blown calls, starting with the KAT 2 hand shove to Ausar’s face, in a 2 pt game. Great job securing those ratings.

That was over and back. Great job refs.

KAT gifted more free throws.

Impossible to take you seriously.

Terrible no call on Cade going to the bucket. Remind me, how many free throws has he had tonight?

Two points off what shouldn’t have been a jump ball. Even Reggie called it out.

You can’t rest Cade. Put him back in now. Why does Reggie keep calling Duren “Durham”?

Midget lineup in right now. At least get Ausar in there. They’re running double big.

3 fouls in the first minute.

Our turn to go on a 25pt 4th quarter run this time?

How many free throws does Cade have again? How about Brunson? What a joke.

Rough game from Harris. Cade figuring out how to get it to Duren on the screen traps. Solid defense to start the quarter. As Del said, just keep that up and the rest will follow. Also of note, they started with Duren guarding KAT in the third instead of Harris.

Rough half. Bad defense. Ref’s helping out the Knicks. Duren, Harris, and Beesley no shows. Cade looks tired. Only Schroeder and THJ keeping us afloat.

Remind me. How many FTs has Cade shot tonight?

Actually the “first illegal contact” on that play was Brunson grabbing Ausar’s jersey to hold him off. But don’t worry about that NY refs.