Pistons forward Josh Smith and coach Maurice Cheeks may be at odds after a 24-point loss to the Washington Wizards on Saturday night, according to David Mayo of MLive.com.
Josh Smith comments on benching by Pistons coach Maurice Cheeks
Josh Smith didn’t play a single minute in the second half of a 24-point loss Saturday night.
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
Smith, who signed a four-year, $54 million contract with the Pistons this past summer, did not log a single minute in the second half of the blowout, after registering four points and four rebounds in the first half.
What bothered Smith the most, according to Mayo, was what he saw as Cheeks questioning his effort:
“It’s an honor for me to play, you know what I’m saying? So when anybody challenges -- or anything about the fact that, you know, about me not wanting to play -- then I take real offense to it,” Smith said.
This wasn't the first time that Cheeks has sat Smith for an entire half. The 10-year forward didn't play in the second half of a loss to the Golden State Warriors on Nov. 12.
Cheeks, for his part, shifted the focus from Smith to the team, as a whole. The Pistons, after appearing to have bought in to a “win now” strategy this off-season, are now 14-18 and have lost four of their last five games:
“The game wasn’t about Josh Smith,” Cheeks said. “The game was we got beat. It’s not just about Josh Smith. We got beat. We got beat pretty good. It wasn’t just Josh Smith. It’s the overall game. It wasn’t just Josh Smith.”
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