JB Bickerstaff Reveals Ausar Thompson's Defensive Mentality Against New York Knicks

The Detroit Pistons are down 1-2 agaist the New York Knicks in their first-round series, with Game 4 underway in the Motor City. All series long, and even in the regular season, head coach JB Bickerstaff has been critical of the oficiating in the NBA, citing calls that often go against the Pistons' defense. 

Through the first three games of the series, the Pistons' best defender, Ausar Thompson, has averaged five fouls per game, even fouling out in Game 2. Bickerstaff remains critical of the referees, even going as far as to challenge a meaningless loose ball in the opening minutes of Game 4.

With frustrations clearly mounting, the Pistons, especially Thompson, might have to tone down the defensive aggression that made them such a successful team this season. However, Bickerstaff is urging him to do the opposite.

"He understands the challenge that's in front of him," outlined the head coach. "We don't want him to change because the whistle changes night by night. And that's what you've kind of seen, is the amount of foul calls, the attention to that matchup. But Ausar has to be Ausar, he's gotta use his length, he's gotta use his size, his physicality to be great defensively."

Bickerstaff doubled down, saying that the whistle often changes for Thompson, suggesting that the officiating in this series has so far been unfair. 

This season, the Pistons averaged 20.7 personal fouls per game, the third most in the NBA. Through three postseason games, that number has jumped up to 24.3 personal fouls per game, suggesting that the Knicks are perhaps getting more favorable calls than the underdog--and often rowdy--Pistons. 

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