Detroit Free Press · Dec 9, 2016
Pistons reserves kept starters on the bench
Minneapolis — It was an odd lineup to have on the court, especially in closing time, but Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy wasn’t about to pull them.
Tobias Harris, along with the reserve group of Ish Smith, Darrun Hilliard, Jon Leuer and Aron Baynes started the fourth quarter on Tuesday against the Bulls — and turned a one-point deficit into an eight-point lead by the time Kentavious Caldwell-Pope and Andre Drummond helped put the game away in the final four minutes.
Keeping the starters on the bench seemed a bit unusual, but with the reserves rolling, Van Gundy didn’t want to massage the starters’ egos by bringing them back when the second unit was playing so well.