The Detroit Pistons' remarkable resurgence continued with a 114-111 win on the road over the Toronto Raptors, and a playoff dream that seemed dead just a few weeks ago is now very much alive.
After starting the season 5-23, the Pistons are a mere two games back of the No. 8 spot in the Eastern Conference.Thanks to 34 points and 10 assists from Brandon Jennings, Detroit leaped out of a first-half hole dug principally by Raptors big man Jonas Valanciunas (14 points and six rebounds in the first quarter alone), who was utterly dominant in the early going.
The first 24 minutes concluded with Detroit trailing by a dozen points.Jennings led the Pistons back, though, stroking confident jumpers and getting to his spots against a Raptors defense that has struggled immensely of late to contain penetration. Watching Jennings—maligned over the years for his poor shot selection and laissez-faire approach to defense—head the charge was surreal.In a report from Ian Begley of ESPN.com, Carmelo Anthony explained that surgery may be the only way to address his troublesome left knee: "I'm pretty sure at some point that's going to be my only option. But until that time I can't sit out. ... I feel like if I can go out there and play some more and continue to play, then I'm going to do that."
The New York Knicks are 5-35. They've lost 15 straight and have absolutely no chance to compete for a playoff spot this year. Nor do they have a desire to do so—as their exchange of Iman Shumpert and J.R. Smith for nothing indicates.
If they can help it, the Knicks won't stop there, either. According to Begley and Marc Stein of ESPN.com, New York is looking to move Andrea Bargnani and Jose Calderon as well. Don't expect teams to line up for those two, though.
So what's Anthony waiting for? Why not go under the knife now and leave enough time to rehab as possible ahead of a 2015-16 season that might actually matter?
In a way, Melo's stated desire to postpone the inevitable is admirable. But given where the Knicks are in the standings, and how they'd be best served to stay there, Anthony's hesitation makes no sense.
Source http://bleacherreport.com/articles/2327726-buying-or-selling-the-detroit-pistons-as-a-playoff-team-and-monday-nba-takeaways
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