NYLion

In the last two months, on the road, the Pistons beat the Pacers, Knicks twice, Suns, Lakers, Kings, Rockets and Hawks all of whom are playoff or play in teams. They're 10-3 on the road in that stretch a lot of which was without Ivey with the only 3 losses against the Celtics twice and Denver when the Pistons weren't as confident as they are now. Pretty wild and surreal because I've (we've) been so accustomed to this being a hopeless franchise for the better part of the last 15 years. I don't know how sustainable it is because the roster is still pretty undermanned but I'm enjoying the hell out of it right now.

My biggest issue with Ben isn't that he went to the Bears, can't fault a man for doing what's best for him and his family. It's that he jumped to the Bears immediately after a devastating team loss and, even worse, already had his coaching staff assembled which leads me to believe that he wasn't focused on the task at hand with the Lions. You see Glenn with the Jets and he's just assembling his staff, I can respect that more. Regardless, I wish no ill will on the man. He did a really good job here but I just don't like the way it went down and the timing of it. Just my opinion

Gotcha, can't argue that.

Corpse? lol. The Lions have one of the best rosters in the league and arguably the best GM/head coach combo. They'll be just fine without Ben and AG.

Against a team that is one of the worst in the league against the run and in a game when your RB is tearing up the defense, it was a terrible idea to stray from what was working. Ben being too cutesy as he tended to get. A lot of times it worked but in the playoffs, you need to stick with what works when it works and he went away from it.

Such a complicated trade to pull off but the Pistons are in prime position to be the facilitator. I hope Langdon is more in asset accumulation mode than win now mode because the team is still too incomplete and the win now window doesn't really open up until next year plus they'll likely have control of all their picks as well so if they add a 1st now, they'll have some real assets to work with to use for a bigger trade when they're in the real win now window.

Definitely not a bum, did a great job here, but he choked in this game as badly as Goff. 14 carries for Gibbs is coaching malpractice and having Jamo throw a pass when you're 10 down was idiotic. Not to mention throwing on 3rd and short when Goff fumbled in the red zone early in the game when they were set to go up 14-3 when Gibbs was tearing up their defense. It was a poorly called game, almost as if his mind was elsewhere. Hmmm..

Just popping in to say... Screw Ben Johnson. That's it, that's all 😉 And I'll gladly take the two 3rds for AG. I liked AG more than most but we need the beans more with the impending cap crunch hitting the Lions the year after next.

I wonder if one of those 1sts Phoenix traded for is destined for a team like the Pistons to take on a salary to pave way for a Butler trade. I would say Monte Morris to give the Pistons an extra ballhandler but offloading his salary does nothing for them. Can't be Beal for many reasons so, I don't know.

It amazes me that a team with one guy on a rookie max and only one other non-max guy appreciably above MLE level money (Harris) is so cap strapped. What's a team like OKC going to do, for instance, they have $24m more committed next season than the Pistons do and two of their three best players are approaching the end of their rookie deals. So they have to trim a bunch of salary and this is before Chet and Williams are due for their monster raises. Houston has $56m more committed than the Pistons next season so they have to dump a bunch of guys to become cap compliant. Boston will almost $100m committed to their payroll than the Pistons so how are they going to make it work if the Pistons are in cap hell? I have no idea how teams are going to keep anybody together if a team like the Pistons with one rookie max deal, another decent sized contract and a bunch of filler contracts is in cap trouble.

That is 100% on Ben Johnson. They had no problem moving up and down the field on that defense with conventional offense, there was no reason to get cutesy and put the ball in the hands of a receiver who does nothing but want to make big plays so of course he's going to force a throw to make a play. Just an absolutely horrendous and unnecessary call IMO.

I see people blaming the injuries and, sure, it played a factor but 5 (FIVE!!!) turnovers by the offense including a gifted 7 on an INT is what lost this game. Goff choked and Ben Johnson choked, those were the two main factors. A fumble and two INTs by the QB in the red zone, a third INT that ended up in his end zone and the arrogant OC neglecting the run after it was shredding the Commanders defense and doing that utterly brainless Jamo throwing the ball call down 10 early in the 4th, wtf was he thinking? Those are your two biggest culprits. The Commanders didn't even have to do anything special, just watch the Lions implode. The biggest disappointment of this is a team that prided itself on composure and valuing the football did neither of that on the biggest stage.

Brunson maybe and I say maybe because of his weak defense. Not a big fan of LaMelo, don't see him as a winner, so none on that list.

Daniels is going to make a lot of plays against the Lions defense, it's going to get shredded at times, but the key is to stiffen up in the red zone like they did against the Vikings because the Commanders will probably get ample red zone opportunities. I don't see how they stop the Lions offense though, they're weak against the run might be without Payne and Monty is back so it might be a matter of just playing keep away from Daniels by controlling the clock with the running game. I hope Ben doesn't cute (yes, hope against all hope) and just plays smashmouth football.

I'm fascinated by this deadline. The Pistons have something cooking so it's tempting to add an impact guy if possible but you don't want to lose sight of the big picture for a quick fix. First of all, the Pistons don't really have the assets to make a real impact trade until that pick conveys and they have control of all their picks and the new salary cap rules with the second apron rule makes it more difficult to add long term salary so with Cade already maxed out and with Beasley due for a new contract and Ivey coming up it makes it complicated to add anything more than an expiring deal. I'd like to see the Pistons weaponize their current cap space to add picks for future ammo to make a bigger trade but don't see a path to adding any 1sts so I don't know what they should do tbh. Maybe a smaller deal for a vet like Brogdon to help alleviate the ballhandling duties from Cade? Something like that seems prudent.

If only he could hit some shots he'd be a star but in a league where shot making from long range is essential it's a problem having him out there in clutch moments. Love his game otherwise.

What a win. Cade is a full blown star now with performances like this against a top team finally showing aggression in big moments knowing he can score on anybody anytime and Beasley, what else can I say? Get that man signed. This team is a lot of fun to watch even in their early season close losses

He is a baller but the constant knocks on Baker revealed themselves in this game with the botched handoff then the botch on the snap on 3rd down on the last possession although the center played a part in that mistake. He's always struggled with turnovers and it cost them in this one.

The Commanders were my preferred choice of the possible divisional round opponents even though they have the most dangerous dual threat QB of the 4 teams. Lets be honest, if the Lions can't beat the Commanders, with all due respect to them, then they just aren't as good as we all think they are. It's like the Tampa playoff game last year, the Lions should be a strong favorite in this one.

Mobley is not a #1 option though. He's in a phenomenal situation to make the best use of his talents, that wouldn't have happened in Detroit. Cade was and is the right choice.

The Pistons are kind of playing with fire here barely beating terrible teams at home and with them pretty much running Cade into the ground because the bench just can't compete with no ballhandler. Tough schedule coming up too. It's nice being 20-19 but I feel like this thing can fall off the rails quickly if Langdon (almost said Weaver, sheesh) doesn't bring in another ballhandler at the very least.

Chill Trajan, Chill. A .500 team shouldn't make him stray away from the long term plan. The Pistons still need to build an asset base to make a real impactful move in the next year or two, that time is not now and Ingram certainly isn't that guy.

Trying to kill time here until wildcard weekend so I figured I'd ask you guys. Who is your preferred opponent? Now we all know that the Lions can beat anybody and shouldn't fear anybody but, as a fan, which team do you think would be the best matchup for the Lions next weekend. Personally, I take Washington. Rookie QB facing this team in that environment seems like way too tall of a task. Green Bay would probably be the team I'd like to face the least but that would also mean that Philly would be out so a bit torn on that one. Not too interested in facing Stafford and those weapons either. I'd expect the Lions to beat either but still... So, what say you guys?

I wouldn't hate a McCollum trade if it was an expiring, he's a sizeable THJ upgrade, but with the extra year at that number, no way in hell should it be entertained. Regardless, it seems like speculation at best.

Orlando and probably Milwaukee will be in that mix. Orlando is devastated by injury but they'll be healthy come playoff time and be as dangerous as anybody. Milwaukee and Philly with Giannis and Embiid will be a threat. After that, it's wide open.