Detroit Pistons forward Josh Smith took offense to a benching by coach Maurice Cheeks in a loss to the Washington Wizards on Saturday, but Cheeks said Sunday that he had spoken with his star and the two "are fine," according to MLive.com's David Mayo:
Pistons coach Maurice Cheeks and Josh Smith are ‘fine’
The Detroit Pistons head coach Maurice Cheeks claims he and forward Josh Smith simply have a difference of opinion.
Kyle Terada-USA TODAY Sports
“We came to our agreement,” Cheeks said today. “Y’all (media) are the only ones who got a problem with it because me and Josh are fine.”
Following a 106-82 loss to the Wizards -- the fourth defeat in the Pistons’ last five games -- Smith said he felt like Cheeks sat him for the second half for not playing hard. Such a charge was offensive to Smith, who had four points and four rebounds in the first half. His coach kept the reasoning for Smith’s benching in the locker room, only saying after the game that he just felt like he wanted to make a change.
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Cheeks said that he didn’t understand why Smith felt like he was treated unfairly, according to Mayo:
“That’s his opinion. You know, I watch a lot of judge shows and they always talk about people’s opinions, and that’s his opinion. That’s OK. I can’t be in his brain and he’s certainly entitled to his opinion. I’m entitled to mine.”
After signing a four-year, $54 million contract with Detroit this summer, Smith is averaging 15.1 points and 6.5 rebounds per game this season, his lowest outputs in eight years.
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