Salt Lake City — The Pistons’ season seems to be hanging on by the thinnest of threads. After Tuesday’s embarrassing 31-point loss at Utah, they look to be sleepwalking through the final stretch of the season, playing defense with their eyes closed.
At 30-37, they’re not mathematically eliminated from the playoffs, sitting 5½ games behind the Miami Heat for the last playoff spot. But math doesn’t botch defensive assignments, doesn’t miss open shots and doesn’t give up easy baskets in transition.
Players do.
And the players have had Jekyll-and-Hyde performances since the trade for Blake Griffin at the end of January.