Pistons Dwane Casey seeks urgency from Andre Drummond, others – MLive.com

DETROIT -- Every minute in every game counts when it comes to playing in the NBA. At least thats the message Detroit Pistons head coach Dwane Casey has been stressing to his team.

The Pistons dropped their third consecutive game Monday, 117-110 to New Orleans in overtime, the third game in a row they turned up the intensity in the second half. For the second game in a row, though, the Pistons attempted those fourth-quarter comebacks without starting center Andre Drummond.

After getting ejected two minutes into the second half of Saturdays game against the Bulls, Drummond was benched for the final 20:29 against the Pelicans. He logged only 19 and 22 minutes in each of the past two games, far less than his season average of 33 minutes.

Casey on Tuesday discussed the importance of starting strong with Drummond and the rest of the team.

Related: Andre Drummond sits as Pistons go with players who hustled

We talked about the sense of urgency of starting the game; it was similar to what it was vs. Chicago and that was the difference in the game, Casey said. "If we play the entire game like we played the second half, it would have been a different outcome.

"We all have to decide whats important, if its important to compete. Not only Andre, its everybody in the locker room. The young group in the second half did that. Those guys are what you want to build your team around.

That urgency not only helps the Pistons, its also beneficial to players like Drummond, who might be moved prior to the Feb. 6 trade deadline. The club reportedly has talked with several teams regarding Drummond, who has a player option for next season ($28.7 million) which he might decline.

Though the 26-year-old has said he wants to stay in Detroit, if he chooses to explore free agency the Pistons would get nothing in return if they dont move him in the next few weeks.

So, when Casey talked to his team, he reminded them that fans are not the only people watching.

Like I tell players, not only are you auditioning for us, youre auditioning for 29 other teams, Casey said. "Your negotiation power is what you put on the floor. Your resume is what you put on the floor. If you put a half-hearted effort on the floor, thats part of your negotiation.

Every team in the league has access to film. Theyre thinking from a basketball coaching standpoint of what you do, not whos popular and whos not popular and that type of thing.

Though speculation may continue until a deal is finalized, Casey stated that his focus and his teams focus is on the job they have to complete on the floor.

Andre is a professional," he said. "We talk to players all the time about being pros, approaching the game.

Derrick Rose fined

The NBA announced on Tuesday afternoon that it fined Pistons point guard Derrick Rose $25,000 for throwing a pen into the stands.

On Monday night, Rose architected a fourth-quarter comeback to send the Pistons and Pelicans into overtime. The Pistons scored only eight points in the period and frustrations were high.

Casey called a timeout after Pelicans forward Nicolo Melli sank a jumper with 37 seconds to go. Rose picked up a pen from the announcers table, threw it across the court and into the stands.

Pistons Basketball Information Specialist presented with award

The NBA also announced the winners of its Team Sales & Marketing Awards. The Pistons Basketball Information Specialist, Edward Rivero, won the award for NBA Values of the Game. The honor recognizes an individual on an NBA team who exemplifies the values of the league in their community.

Rivero has faced a number of challenges in his life. He was born with cerebral palsy, has diabetes and has lost sight in one eye. However, he is committed to his work and has served the Pistons for 37 years. He began his time with the team as a locker room attendant in 1982 and was named Basketball Information Specialist in 2003 because of his penchant for NBA statistics and his memory.

The league invited all 30 teams to submit a nominee for each of the six categories, which included Team of the Year, Inclusion Leadership, Inclusion Innovation, Team Innovation, Guest Experience and Values of the Game.

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