Anyone else been getting spam calls about their "tax obligations" these last three months?

Trajan Langdon was ambiguous about the Pistons' offseason plans. He wasn't ambiguous about Jalen Duren. Wrote about why an underwhelming postseason won't deter them from retaining a 22-year-old who otherwise has been a key part of their ascendance. www.freep.com/story/sports...

The two teams that eliminated the Pistons from the playoffs are in the ECF. How’s that for fuel?

Trajan Langdon was ambiguous about the Pistons' offseason plans. He wasn't ambiguous about Jalen Duren. Wrote about why an underwhelming postseason won't deter them from retaining a 22-year-old who otherwise has been a key part of their ascendance. www.freep.com/story/sports...

Going through Prince's discography because I've never listened to his entire discography. And I'm stuck on his self-titled second album. Better than I anticipated given how little it's discussed www.youtube.com/watch?v=C4F_...

Langdon said he knew the team could be good after the 13-game winning streak: "Did I think it would equal 60 wins? Even after the winning streak I didn’t think it would be 60 wins and that’s an incredible feat, one that hadn't been done here in nearly 20 years."

Langdon on Paul Reed: "Consummate professional. In and out of the lineup this season and it didn’t matter if his number was called." "He’s a better player now than when we got him off waivers two years ago."

Langdon said Cade will learn lot from the playoffs, and his lung injury: "I know it frustrated him a lot because he didn’t get to be his best self. Nobody can in that situation. He’ll learn from it. He’s probably going to look at everything and say I have to be more efficient."

Langdon on Holland: "I thought Ron took a step. Guys gotta remember he’s only 20 years old. "Do I think he was disappointed he lost his rotation spot in the playoffs? I think it’ll put fire under his belly to work. He’s a worker, he’s a high-level competitor, high-level person."

Langdon on if the team can win a championship as built: "I wish I were clairvoyant. I think so, yeah. You’re always going to iterate your team a little bit to get better … for us it’s always if it’s adding a person or just getting better internally."

Langdon said he expects the team will have "optionality" this summer asset-wise. "Obviously (Duren) and (Ausar) will be expensive, and once that happens the optionality decreases … but we’ll see what things we can execute on to make us better and what things we can’t."

Langdon said they'd love to have Tobias back next season. "Tobias has been great. I thought he played some of his best basketball with us in these postseason games. But his approach, his professionalism has been huge in terms of us establishing the environment we have."

Langdon: "I thought Cade was an absolute warrior. I haven’t had a collapsed lung, I’m sure most of you haven’t, and he had a collapsed lung and fractured." Noted he had to sit on the couch for 7-10 days to heal and went through deconditioning right as they ramped up for playoffs.

Langdon said ball-handling and shooting are areas they'll look to improve. "A lot of the teams that are successful have a lot of players that can initiate, whether bringing the ball up or in the halfcourt … we’ll look at some of those things."

Langdon on if NIL draft uncertainty played into the Wolves pick swap: "It wasn’t on the top of our minds when we did the deal but I think now what’s transpired in the last month, that’s going to help for sure. I do think there’s a line between 21 and 28 where the talent differs."

Langdon of if they were "seduced" by their regular season and didn't do enough at the trade deadline: "I don’t think there was a rock that was not overturned as far as understanding where we were ... some things were way too expensive at that point, we felt."

Langdon's reiterated several times the team will take a look at "everything" regarding adding a big swing, second scorer, etc. "We’ll take a holistic view of the roster. We’re still a young team … we’ll take a deep dive, we’ll figure out what we need to add."

On Duren, Langdon sounds confident they'll extend him in some capacity. "JD had a fantastic season. All-Star, one of the biggest contributors to us getting a one seed … an incredible leap from last year to this year because of the work he put in last summer and his focus."

Talking to Trajan Langdon here at the PPC in 5 ish minutes. Will be live-streamed www.youtube.com/watch?v=vpbu...

Parity had a good run

We're live now

Trajan Langdon will host an end of season media availability tomorrow at 1 pm.

Pistons quadrupled their win total in two years under JB and folks were talking about if he might get fired lol. Gores has been loyal to all of his recent coaches but one. No chance he’d want another reset after a year like this.

Game 7 was a poor reflection of a season that, by any objective measure, was the Pistons’ best in nearly two decades.  60 wins, a trip to the second round and superstar stuff from Cade Cunningham. Their journey to contention starts now. www.freep.com/story/sports...

The Pistons have much to navigate this summer. Five questions for the offseason, including extensions for Jalen Duren and Ausar Thompson www.freep.com/story/sports...

Cade: “That game sucked. Being back home, definitely wanted to get this win in front of the fans. Reminded me of last year, losing on the home court. It’s not a great feeling.”

Covered a playoff game every other day since April 25, with travel every week, and now it's suddenly done. What a bizarre feeling.

JB: “I’m not disappointed in these guys in the least bit.”

Robinson: "I don't want to be over-reactionary having not watched it ... we didn't come out with the right disposition for a Game 7 and that was apparent in all the areas we prided ourselves on this year, areas we thought we could compete with and win, we didn't win those."

Cade on if this loss will fuel them: "A lot. There was a great opportunity to move forward and to continue to experience new things that we hadn't been exposed to. Fell short. We were right there but we fell short. That chip and that sting, we're going to feel for a while."

14 44 60 Regardless of how it ended tonight, this season was not a disappointment for the Pistons.

FINAL: Cavaliers 125, Pistons 94. The Pistons have been eliminated from the playoffs. Their deepest run since 2008 ends with an incredibly flat, disappointing performance on their home floor. Lots to build off of this season, but this was a nightmare way for it to end.

That technical free throw by Cade at the 5:51 mark of the 4th was his first point of the second half. Among many, many issues for the Pistons tonight is his inability to get anything going.

What a nightmare of a game to end the season with. Ultimately they reset the standard with 60 wins and making it out of the first round. But going out like this tastes bitter regardless of what expectations were during preseason. One of their worst performances in a long time.

End of 3: Cavs 99, Pistons 73.

Murphy's Law type of night

Looks like they've just run out of gas

Halftime: Cavs 64, Pistons 47. Big all-around yikes. Pistons are shooting 38.1% overall and the Cavs are at 52.4%. Feels like the disparity should be wider. Defensive effort and execution's been poor. Losing the physicality battle. Need a 180 turnaround or the season's over.

Seems like Tobias hasn't had legs these last few games. He's 0-5 from the floor

Cavs 55, Pistons 35 with 2:53 left until halftime. On one hand, they've missed their share of makeable shots. On the other hand, they're giving up too many open 3s. But at least they're putting the Cavs on the line too much.

Pistons can't buy a bucket. This is rough

Merrill hits a 3 through contact from Sasser and makes the and 1. He has 15 points and is 4-6 from 3. Cavs offense is very potent when he's shooting like this

Cavs are doing everything but making free throws. 6-13 at the line.

Just can't put a hand on Harden. He's gonna sell it and the last thing they need is give up more free throws

Cavs 41, Pistons 26 with 7:30 to play until halftime. They have no offensive rhythm in the 2nd quarter, shooting 2-10. Cavs are hitting 3s and drawing fouls in the paint. Gotta get something going soon or this will be a short night

Reed's in to start the 2nd quarter

End of 1: Cavs 31, Pistons 22. Mitchell beat the buzzer with a 3 from just inside halfcourt. Cavs got hot and knocked down four of them in the final 2:31 to take control of this one. They’re 6-13 from 3 and 12-23 overall.

Cavs are chucking from 3 and they're starting to fall. 5-12 from deep this quarter after Mobley, Merrill and Mitchell make three in a row

Might've been a coincidence, but the Pistons subbed Ausar out after picking up his first foul. Sasser's in with Cade, Robinson, LeVert and Stew

Verlander’s in the house