Rodney Stuckey hit a game-winning jumper with 0.2 seconds left, but it was Brandon Knight who got the Gatorade bath in the Pistons' ugly-as-all-hell 79-77 win over the Washington Wizards.

The entire Pistons team could have used a cleaning, as they shot under 37% for the entire game. Knight was a particularly abysmal 3-for-13, but his 6 assists and 7 rebounds were plenty enough to help the Pistons stop their 5 game losing streak.

We've largely ignored the Pistons around these parts this season -- mostly because they're never on national TV and NBA League Pass is a gazillion dollars -- but no longer. With their win over the Toronto Raptors tonight, the Pistons have won 3 straight games and are within 3.5 games of the final playoff spot in the Eastern Conference.

And if you think that New York is all but guaransheed a playoff spot now that Jeremy Lin is on the scene, think again. The Knicks are just 9-7 since Lin joined the starting lineup, and just 3-7 since the end of their 7-game winning streak that vaulted Lin to celebrity status.

Meanwhile, the Pistons have quietly been playing some of the best basketball in the entire NBA. On February 1st, the Pistons were 4-20. Since then, they are 11-6, with wins over current playoff contenders Atlanta, Boston (twice), and the Lakers. It looks like Lawrence Frank has figured things out, to an extent, and has this team playing as well as they have since D-Day in 2008.

While the Pistons can be downright turrible at times (see recent games against Philadelphia and Memphis for proof), they are much closer to making the postseason than the top of the draft lottery. If I had to choose which way I'd want them to go at this time, I'd root for the 8 seed in hopes that this young roster can gain some valuable experience for (hopeful) future playoff endeavors.

Greg Monroe does not deserve to be on this year's version of the Detroit Pistons. Monroe is the type of guy that you would expect to be starring on the 2004 championship squad or during the Bad Boys era. He's a smart player with great offensive skills who plays solid defense as well. Most of all, as John Wall can attest to, he hustles all the time.

Unfortunately for Monroe, the Rookie-Sophomore challenge ended up just like most of his season so far: with a loss.

[CBS Sports]

Man, what a tough loss! The Pistons got crushed by the Bulls 92-68 last night, but I'm sure you already knew that because there was nothing else on TV worth watching. I mean, come on Jason Maxiell, 1-for-12? ONE FOR TWELVE? I can't even remember watching you take a good shot last night. Maybe you should spend a little more time cheering on your teammates.

And where was the rest of the offense? Alabama kicker Jeremy Shelley would have been the Pistons' top scorer last night... from what I've heard, that is (he must have been wanking it to brunette girls all night). I totally watched the Pistons lay down in the 4th quarter and didn't watch Alabama completely dominate LSU in the BCS championship game whatsoever.

...

But seriously, how about that Trent Richardson touchdown?

In the first game of the 2011-12 season (yup, still weird), the Pacers beat the Pistons 91-79 at some place in Indianapolis that I'm not really sure of the name of right now because it's been changed so many times. Unless the Pistons win on Wednesday, this likely marks the last time that the Pistons will be within 1 game of .500 all season.

Roy Hibbert and Tyler Hansbrough combined for 31 points and 27 rebounds, which really sucks because they probably won't match those totals until about Martin Luther King Day. Oh well, at least the Red Wings are always good.

[Box Score]

So that whole NBA lockout thing was fun, huh? Truth be told, the lockout ended at just about the right time for D4L: with the way we usually get to things around here, the NBA season preview would have probably still been posted in late December anyway.

Anyway, I don’t want to get into the X’s and O’s of why the Pistons aren’t going to be very good this season. Instead, I’m going to sample some reader questions make up some stuff regarding the potential bright spots of what will probably be a painful season for Pistons fans to watch.

1. If I'm going to buy a Pistons jersey this season, which player should I get?

If "throwback Rodman #10" isn't an option, it has to be Greg Monroe. (The) Moose is easily the best player on the team despite what Rodney Stuckey is getting paid. Monroe was highly underrated by national pundits during his rookie season and should continue to improve with more minutes this season.

2. Will Brandon Knight be as good as those dudes on ESPN said he was on draft night?

The jury is still out on whether Knight is a bona-fide top 5 pick or whether his hype was simply a product of the shallow draft class he was a part of. It's not uncommon for the local media to portray nothing but rainbows and puppy dogs about the new draftees, but their praise of Knight's work ethic takes it to another level. Judging by this and his performance in tonight's preseason matchup against Cleveland, I'm buying into the hype.

3. Will Rodney Stuckey continue to drive into a crowded lane and throw up horrible shots while begging for foul calls to bail him out?

Yes. Moving on...

4. How will Jonas Jerebko fare after missing all of last season with an Achilles injury?

Jerebko still looked a bit out of sync in tonight's game, but it's hard to say whether this is due to the injury (and subsequent time missed) or because of the wacky schedule. By all accounts (which, as we've touched on, are sugarcoated as hell), Jonas looks to be regaining the quickness that made him effective in the post during his rookie season. He's also bulked up a bit, which will hopefully translate to his defensive game.

5. Is Lawrence Frank the right coach to lead the Pistons back to the upper echelon of the Eastern conference?

6. Was Rip Hamilton the problem? Or will Tayshaun Prince & Co. continue to cause issues with the new coaching staff?

I sure as hell hope it was the former. Despite Tayshaun's re-signing, this is a younger team that is getting away from the core that won the 2004 NBA championship but ultimately ran three coaches out of town in four years. The longer Lawrence Frank is allowed to operate without mutiny, the better off this team will be, even if Frank isn't the long term answer behind the bench.

7. If you were GM, what roster moves would you make to help this team get better?

First, I'd use the amnesty clause to get rid of Charlie V's contract. Next, I'd call David Stern (or whoever the fuck is running the Hornets now) and offer Ben Gordon for Emeka Okafor. To sweeten the pot, I'd throw in either the FSD girls or Shannon Hogan, depending on how low the guy's standards are (or Ryan Field, if the situation calls for it). Finally, I'd do whatever I could to trade Tayshaun Prince for an expiring contract.

As talented as Prince, Villanueva, and Gordon are, this team isn't going anywhere in the immediate future. Giving the younger guys as many minutes as possible and seeing whether they fit into the long term plans of this franchise (which I'm not sure Joe Dumars has at this point) should be the main goal of the 2011-12 season.

Rodney Stuckey (walking into Joe Dumars' office): Hey Mr. Dumars, you wanted to see me?

Joe Dumars (eating a piece of fried chicken): Chauncey, my boy! Have a seat!

Stuckey: Err, it's Rodney, sir.

Dumars: Yeah, whatever. Listen son, you had a hell of a series against the Lakers and we need to get you re-signed before this next season starts!

Stuckey: Umm, right. Well Mr. Dumars, that's why I wanted to talk to you. You see...

Dumars (interrupting): You should have seen how pissed Kobe Bryant was after that series. HOO BOY, I need a snack! [grabs a tub of fried rice off his desk and starts eating it with his bare hands]

Stuckey: Uhh, sir, I believe you are mistaken. You see, I was still in college when...

Dumars: Don't try and bullshit me, Chauncey! You know that we need you here next season so we can defend our title!

Stuckey: Err, right. Well anyway, Mr. Dumars sir, I believe that I should get paid $10 million next season.

Dumars (choking on a bite of mashed potatoes): $10 million dollars?! We can't afford that! Someone has to pay for my snacks! [reaches for a bag of Doritos]

Stuckey: Well, sir, I had a pretty good season last year and...

Dumars: You know, I was hoping that that Red Wings guy would buy the team so I could get all the free pizza I wanted. You have NO IDEA how excited I was for that!

[grabs a 2 liter of Coke and starts chugging]

Stuckey (clearly disturbed now): Well, sir, I'm hoping that we can work out a long-term deal. I'm thinking something kinda like Tayshaun's...

Dumars: OH MAN, and Tayshaun Prince! What an awesome playoff run that kid had! You know, I was hoping he'd do something like that when we drafted him and OH MAN CHAUNCEY DID YOU SEE THAT BLOCK! WOW!

Stuckey: Err, right sir. Anyway, even Jonas got a 4-year...

Dumars: Who?

[door flies open]

Click after the jump to hear the rest...

So maybe Joe Dumars hasn't quite lost it yet. The Pistons waived Rip Hamilton yesterday, ending Hamilton's 9-year stint in Detroit.

While Hamilton was a nuisance over the past few tumultuous seasons, Pistons fans will likely remember him as the most consistent scorer on the 2004 championship squad. It was a rare occasion where Hamilton would miss a mid-range jumper after curling around a screen.

I'm not completely sold that the Pistons should retire Hamilton's #32, but I definitely expect his mask to end up in a glass case on the Palace concourse sometime very soon.

[Freep]

Let me preface this entire post with this statement: I love Joe Dumars, the player. I love Joe Dumars, the GM that created the "Going to Work" Pistons that won the 2004 NBA championship.

This Joe Dumars is gone. Now, Pistons fans are stuck with the Joe Dumars who can't let go of those same 2004 Pistons, save for the only one with some game left (no offense, Big Ben). Earlier today, the Pistons agreed to a 4-year contract with forward Tayshaun Prince. Joe Dumars thinks that he is getting this Tayshaun Prince.

This Tayshaun Prince is gone. Now, Pistons fans are stuck with the Tayshaun Prince who can't guard the bevy of small forwards that are running roughshod over the Eastern Conference... for four years.

Also gone is high-flying shooting guard Terrico White. The Pistons cut White loose today after he missed his entire rookie season with a broken foot. Like Arron Afflalo, I fully expect this to blow up in the Pistons' face in 2-3 years. If you don't, watch this video and then tell me otherwise.

If you're into silver linings and the such, the Pistons also re-signed Jonas Jerebko to a 4-year contract worth $16 million. Considering the fact that Darko (yes, that Darko) is being paid $1 million more per season by the Timberwolves, this is a steal. Too bad he will never see the floor sitting behind Prince.

I miss the lockout.

It's not really accurate to call "Jim Rome is Burning" when Jason Smith hosts the show, but regardless Pistons forward Austin Daye was on the show to talk about the NBA lockout. Austin talks about how this season is important for him financially as well as from a growth standpoint as a player.

Austin says he wouldn't rule out going overseas, but hasn't gotten any offers yet. The fact that he called Lawrence Frank "L-Frank" is encouraging as well. Otherwise, a pretty nondescript interview from Mr. Daye.