AUBURN HILLS, Mich. -- A brutal season has finally caught up with the Detroit Pistons.
Playing 66 games in four months has been a grind for every NBA team, and Detroit's 4-20 start meant that the last 42 games were going to be a hopeless chase for the eighth playoff spot.
They've done better than expected, playing over .500 since the terrible start, but Friday's 113-97 loss to the Milwaukee Bucks looked like a tired team that wanted to go home.
"We started to feel sorry for ourselves tonight, and they took advantage of it," coach Lawrence Frank said. "We didn't have the energy or the intensity that we needed."
Unlike the Pistons, the Bucks have every reason to play hard. They trail the Knicks for the final Eastern Conference playoff spot, and probably need to win at least six of their final seven games to have a chance.
"Right now, we're playing like every night is our last game," said Brandon Jennings, who finished with 20 points and 10 assists. "This is big, but we have to keep going. We've got a tough one tomorrow with Indiana. We have to keep it up."
Before the game, Frank urged his team to match Milwaukee's effort, but it didn't happen.
"For Milwaukee, every game is a playoff game right now," he said. "They are playing with desperation and urgency. We want to show that same kind of energy, but that didn't happen tonight."
Milwaukee only led 52-47 at the half, but the Pistons couldn't stop the quick-passing combination of Jennings, Monta Ellis and Drew Gooden. The trio combined for 64 points and 25 assists and helped fellow starters Carlos Delfino and Ersan Ilyasova score another 30.
The Bucks have turned into one of the league's best offensive teams since a trade last month brought Ellis and Ekpe Udoh in exchange for Andrew Bogut and Stephen Jackson.
"They are that good, and they have been ever since the trade," said Ben Gordon, who scored 24 for the Pistons. "With Monta and Brandon Jennings, they put a lot of pressure on your defense, and once Drew gets going, they are coming at you from every direction.
"They've been scoring on everyone since the trade, and they played a great game tonight. You just have to give them credit."
The Pistons are off on Saturday before hosting another team needing a strong finish to the season. In Chicago's case, they are trying to lock up the East's top seed and home-court advantage in an expected showdown with Miami.
"Sunday is going to be even more of a challenge than tonight," Frank said. "We've told the team that we're going to judge them on their entire body of work, and that includes these last few games."
