The Pistons Need To Fire Monty Williams After This Insane End Of Game Mismanagement Against The Heat
This probably looks pretty cool. All-Star player gets the ball in a tie game and drills a deep 3-pointer for the win at the buzzer. Will probably be SportsCenter's top play tonight. Great story.
But there is something they didn't show. I was following closely as I had a prop in this game. I was hoping Pistons Center Jalen Duren grabbed over 12.5 rebounds (#DKPartner). He had 10 late in the 4th Quarter and if it went to overtime, we had a shot, so I was invested and hoping to see more basketball.
And I get it, the Pistons are tanking, but this is just insanity. Pistons Point Guard Cade Cunningham is a former #1 overall pick. A legit building block and good, young, player. You don't want to do anything to sully his good name. But he's going to be associated with this too. But this is on Monty Williams. Here's what happened.
The Heat had the ball with 40 seconds left and were trying to get a good shot and a 2-for-1. Detroit actually played good defense and ended up making Miami kick the ball out, eliminating the 2-for-1 opportunity. In the next couple seconds, they actually forced a steal. IT IS A TIE GAME. The Pistons pick it up right at 24 seconds left, BUT THE SHOT CLOCK IS TURNED OFF.
These are the scenarios you dream about as a kid. Clock winding down...3-2-1...for the win...GOOD! But Pistons Head Coach Monty Williams did not have his team aware of time or situation. Instead, Cade Cunningham tried to break down a defender and pulled up for 3 with 10 seconds left!!
He missed the shot, the Heat got the rebound and in a scramble play, they kicked it out to the trailer, Bam Adebayo who drilled a 27 footer at the horn to win the game.
The fact that Miami got the ball with any time left is a crime. The Pistons had a timeout. As a guy rooting for overtime, I was yelling at the screen when I saw Cade start to dribble the ball with an intent to score. If you're Monty Williams, you have to call timeout there. You should be screaming your lungs out to try and communicate to your team to hold for one shot. Which he never did. Just a PATHETIC coaching effort from Monty.
I am not a Pistons fan and have no real rooting interest in the team outside of Jalen Duren rebounding the ball in today's game. The team had a complete brain meltdown on a day the 2004 Pistons celebrated their 20th anniversary from their championship season. An incredible juxtaposition from just how far this once proud franchise has fallen. #FireMontyWilliams