Playing the Blame Game after a terrible Detroit Pistons’ loss

Detroit Pistons head coach Monty Williams talks to guard Cade Cunningham (2) Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
Detroit Pistons head coach Monty Williams talks to guard Cade Cunningham (2) Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports
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Detroit Pistons, Killian Hayes
Portland Trail Blazers guard Shaedon Sharpe (17) strips the ball from Detroit Pistons guard Killian Hayes (7) Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

The Blame Game for the Detroit Pistons in loss to Trail Blazers

Killian Hayes

I’ll have more on this later but last night might have been the nail in the coffin of Killian Hayes’ career with the Detroit Pistons. That was probably the worst game of his career and miles away from the guy we saw in preseason when it looked like he had figured some things out. It’s not just that Hayes couldn’t hit a shot (0-6 last night 27% shooting for the season) but he was taking terrible ones, dribbling way too much on offense, selfishly not passing the ball and was actually terrible defensively. Yes, he had three steals, but he gambled on several more that he did not get which led directly to Trail Blazer baskets. His confidence again looks shot. On his one 3-point attempt, Killian was so wide open that it actually took two full seconds for a defender to even be on the TV screen. He bricked it. Hayes was so tentative on a fastbreak layup attempt that the other team caught up and he just dropped the ball. I am still cheering for the guy, but it’s just about time for this experiment to end, as Hayes is simply the worst offensive player in the NBA. 

Marcus Sasser is already better than Hayes at everything offensively and is no slouch on defense himself. When Monte Morris gets back, it’s time to pull the plug on Hayes.

James Wiseman

Wow. Just wow.

While Killian Hayes might have played the worst game of his career, James Wiseman might have played the worst game I’ve watched in the last five years. He only played six minutes, but managed to be -15 in that time, with four fouls, a turnover and some of the worst post defense you will ever see. Can all of the teenagers in my mentions crying about Wiseman not playing please go away? He’s miles worse than any of the Pistons’ bigs and it showed last night, as he was basically unplayable even in short minutes. I’m ready for this experiment to be over and for people to admit that trading for Wiseman now ranks as Troy Weaver’s worst move.

The good thing about being young is that the Pistons should have short memories, and they will need to, as they hit the road to play a tough Pelicans team tonight and will get eviscerated if we see a repeat of that second half.