FAST BREAKDOWN
Three quick observations from Wednesday night’s 112-110 overtime win over the Cleveland Cavaliers
SLAM DUNK – Odd circumstances made for an odd game. Neither team played any of their starters as the Pistons went to overtime to beat the Cavaliers. Nothing was at stake, Cleveland clinching the No. 1 seed in the East with Monday’s win and the Pistons locked in to the No. 8 seed – and a first-round matchup right back in Cleveland – with Tuesday’s loss. Stan Van Gundy didn’t plan on sitting his starters, but three things convinced him otherwise: (1) with Reggie Jackson out after suffering an abdominal strain Tuesday morning that kept him out of the loss to Miami that sealed their fate, he didn’t see the benefit of having the other four starters play with backup point guard Steve Blake; (2) Cleveland had already called its shot by announcing its starters wouldn’t play; and (3) the fact they’re first-round opponents discouraged any chance to give Cleveland’s resting players a chance for in-person scouting reports on their starters.