Maxiell Gets a DNP against Hawks

Jason Maxiell's Last Five Games
DATE   OPP   RESULT     MIN  FG   3P   FT   ST  BL  TO  PF  OR  DR  TR  AS  PTS
12/12  Ind   W 114-110  14   3-3  0-0  2-3  1   0   1   2   3   1   4   0   8
12/13  @Cha  W 90-86    22   2-4  0-0  3-5  1   0   2   5   2   2   4   0   7
12/17  Was   W 88-74    13   1-4  0-1  0-2  1   1   0   2   2   4   6   0   2
12/19  Uth   L 120-114  16   0-1  0-0  0-0  0   2   0   1   1   3   4   1   0
12/21  @Atl  L 85-78    0    0-0  0-0  0-0  0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0   0

Detroit lost by 7 to Atlanta today, and former key reserve Jason Maxiell didn't leave the pine. Equally noteworthy, his role seems to be on the decline.

Hmmm, the average NBA observer might think to herself, sounds like the Pistons must be giving Amir Johnson some burn. That would make sense, since the Pistons seem stuck in a downward spiral from which they can't escape.

The only problem is that Johnson only played 8 minutes.

The box score looks like something from the KC Jones school of coaching basketball. Three starters played more than 40 minutes, while two played at least 34 minutes. No bench player other than Antonio McDyess played more than 10 minutes.

Hard to say what's going on in Detroit. But it is a little early in the season to be playing starters these kind of minutes to grind out a W, especially in a losing effort.

Many of us will continue to watch the developments unfold in Detroit. But I can think of two people who probably aren't surprised by the Pistons' current difficulties: Flip Saunders and Chauncey Billups