Justin Verrier

ease of playmaking and just the ability to just have the the muscle memory to get guys involved just like as if he just woke up from a nap it's just that easy to him I do wonder if that plays a pretty pivotal role down the stretch here because the one thing I am worried about in the east overall is that while the Pistons have a pretty decisive lead and they ultimately might end up with the best record in the league if the the Thunder can't turn things around without Shea

I do wonder if the door is open more than the Pistons would like it to be.

That's kind of like one of the bigger, like subtle takeaways I have from the deadline.

Rob is just like maybe the Pistons needed to do something because right now it seems like kind of an open field.

Yeah, I did think it was notable that when it got to winning time, when we're in crunch time, like things did just tilt back to Mitchell in the way that it always had.

And like the chemistry between the two of them seems quite good immediately.

And it sounds like based on the reporting that like Mitchell wanted Harden out there.

And so on the one hand, I think to myself, this is very much part of the James Harden new situation flow chart where it's like things are looking great.

We're going on a playoff run.

We'll see in the playoffs if he does anything different.

We'll see when we get there.

Yes.

But for now, there immediately seems to be chemistry and a natural hierarchy already established.

In addition to that, I thought Keon Ellis certainly played with Pep against his former team that was bound to happen.

I just feel like there are live bodies in that lineup like there haven't been before.

And to that point, like they're still scraping the barrel when it comes to like filling out the wing rotation, like Dean Wade, like...

When does he play?

Sam Merrill was there, but is he going to play in the next game?

There's just so much truth.

Is he going to be back in time for the stretch run there?