Basketball, like life, often is about plans, priorities and purpose. And so it was in the United Center Friday, the Detroit Pistons, hanging onto one of the bottom spots in the Eastern Conference trying to get back to the playoffs for just the second time in 10 years, and the Bulls trying to find out how many and who are the players they have who might get them there.
So Pistons coach Dwane Casey, faced with a 21-point first half deficit that still was 11 to start the fourth quarter, varied from routine and started the fourth quarter with his two best players, Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond, the latter playing the entire second half.