Blown 25 point lead unacceptable for Detroit Pistons

The Detroit Pistons had a 25 point lead over the Clippers, but gave up the most disappointing loss of the year. The unacceptable loss should signal change.

Here were the LA Clippers. Visiting Little Caesers Arena and former franchise player Blake Griffin.

Griffin started out the gate making all four of his shots, and the Pistons were rolling.

The ball movement was crisp, the off ball movement was unbelievable, and the impact of Ish Smith‘s return was already being felt.

At the end of the first quarter, you looked up at the scoreboard and saw 40 freakin’ points for the Pistons.

This offensive team, that ranks last in three point shooting percentage but seventh in attempted per game, put up 40 points in the opening quarter.

Reggie Jackson

, who has received nothing but criticism this season and some of it well deserved, was playing the best we have seen him all year. Jackson was looking spry, and was making great decisions with the ball.

We even were getting his signature floater to start the game.

To go along with the high scoring quarter, the Pistons held the Clippers to only 22 points and had an 18 point lead heading into the second.

Here came the bench play, which has struggled without Smith in the rotation. This surely was going to be when the lead evaporated right?

Well, it didn’t.

The Pistons ended the second quarter, surviving the bench play, with the 18 point lead still intact.

You never say a games over till you see the clock hit 0:00, but this game felt like it was the Pistons to lose and they were surely going to win by double digits.

And it was the Pistons game to lose.

But, they didn’t win by double digits.

The Detroit Pistons had a 25 point lead in the first half, and had a 23 point lead midway through the third quarter.

It was all Clippers after that.

The Pistons got outscored 29-22 in the third quarter, a sign of what was to come.

Lou Williams exploded in the fourth quarter, going off for 16 straight Clipper point in the fourth quarter; more points than the Pistons as a TEAM scored in the final quarter (14).

Williams ended this game with 39 points, put the Clippers in his backpack,and carried them to the most disappointing loss in recent memory for the Pistons.

This is unacceptable.

Jackson went off for 29 points.

Griffin had 24 points.

Reggie Bullock had 19 points.

Andre Drummond had 12 points, 11 rebounds, two steals, and three blocks.

The Pistons had a 23 freakin’ point lead halfway through the third quarter.

There is absolutely NO reason this game should’ve been lost.

You’d think a team standing outside of the playoffs by two games, with the Denver Nuggets coming up next, going up against Griffin’s former relationship who dumped him, would cause this team to play with a little more urgency.

Losing a 23 point lead in the second half isn’t about talent.

It isn’t about Dwane Casey.

At a certain point, it’s about your mindset.

Your heart.

And for a team fighting to get back in the playoff picture, losing a 23 point lead is purely a sign of lack of concentration and a bad mindset.

The Pistons had four of their next five games at home, including this loss.

Getting this win would’ve done wonders for this team, and could’ve jump started a winning streak at home these next few games.

Now, this team and it’s fan base has a crappy taste in their mouths.

Playoff teams in the Detroit Pistons situation don’t lose games like this.

The trade deadline is in four days. If the Detroit Pistons plan to make a push for the playoffs, a shake up is needed.

The losses so far this year have been bad, and put the team behind the eight ball.

Still, there was hope with a healthy Smith to settle out the bench unit they could still make a push for the playoffs; without having to make a move at the deadline and wait till the off-season.

This loss wasn’t like any loss this year.

Maybe a shakeup could give this team some life and some needed juice.

But, I know this for sure. Whatever juice or energy this team had (if they had any at all anyways), has been sucked out of them with this loss.

And a team that loses a game in this fashion, at this point of the season, in the situation they have put themselves in, doesn’t have the mindset to right the ship. Whatever you want to call the “it” factor playoff teams have, this loss exhibits the Pistons have none of it and then some.

This loss was unacceptable.

And it should signal a shakeup with this roster.