With the Pistons closing in on a playoff berth - they should get it tonight - the prevailing sentiment is that their season will still be over by the end of the month. And with good reason.
It's going to be nearly impossible for them to finish higher than seventh, even if they sweep their remaining games. Philadelphia, the current sixth seed, is two games ahead of them record-wise and also holds the tiebreaker.
The home finale Monday against Chicago will likely determine who finishes seventh - and draws either Boston or Orlando - and who gets the No. 8 seed and plays Cleveland.
Michael Curry said tonight he doesn't plan on shortening his rotation for the playoffs. He'd like to go nine-deep with Kwame Brown and Jason Maxiell spelling the frontcourt starters, Will Bynum will back up Rodney Stuckey and either Arron Afflalo or Walter Herrmann will get minutes at the wing.