Detroit Pistons forward Austin Daye was out of the starting lineup Sunday against the Washington Wizards and for the second time this season did not play at all. Daye has started 11 of Detroit's 13 games, but has not played in the two games he did not start.

What has Daye done to deserve to be benched for entire game? Nothing. Even head coach John Kuester admits he starts Jason Maxiell in favor of Daye because of matchups.

It's clear Daye is playing out of position right now at power forward. At 6-foot-11, 205 pounds there are many NBA power forwards he will struggle to defend. It's understandable if Kuester wants to start Maxiell in Daye's place based on matchups. But what is not understandable is why Daye is not playing at all if he doesn't start.

Daye is a matchup nightmare for opposing defenses. He's a 6-11 guy that can handle the ball and shoot the 3 (51.7 percent this season). There is no reason he should not leave the bench for a Pistons team clearly in rebuild mode (even if they won't admit it).

Daye has a future in the NBA and should be a part of the Pistons' long term plans. He should be as close to untouchable as any of the current group of Pistons' players.

For Daye's long term growth and confidence he needs to play. Yes, Detroit has won both games he has sat, but the Pistons also beat the Kings and Wizards without him, not exactly the NBA's elite. If Detroit wants to start Daye at power forward then they need to stick with it. Let him take his lumps and hopefully he will be a better player for it.

If the Pistons don't see Daye as a NBA power forward then find him minutes somewhere else, even if it's at the expense of Tayshaun Prince or Tracy McGrady, who are not in the Pistons long term plans.

Trash talking is a part of basketball, but the Boston Cetlics' Kevin Garnett may have taken it too far Tuesday night. Piston forward Charlie Villanueva called out Garnett for his trash talk on his Twitter account Wednesday.

"KG called me a cancer patient, I'm pissed because, u know how many people died from cancer, and he's tossing it like it's a joke," Villanueva wrote. "I wouldn't even trip about that, but a cancer patient, I know way 2 many people who passed away from it, and I have a special place 4 those."

The Tweet by Villanueva shed some light on an earlier post when Villanueva wrote, "KG talks alot of crap, he's prob never been in a fight, I would love to get in a ring with him, I will expose him."

Villanueva has alopecia universalis, a variation of alopecia areata, an autoimmune skin disease, which results in hair loss on the scalp and/or elsewhere on the body. Villanueva is a spokesman for the National Alopecia Areata Foundation (NAAF).

UPDATE
Kevin Garnett issued a statement Wednesday:

“I am aware there was a major miscommunication regarding something I said on the court last night. My comment to Charlie Villanueva was in fact ‘You are cancerous to your team and our league.’ I would never be insensitive to the brave struggle that cancer patients endure. I have lost loved ones to this deadly disease and have a family member currently undergoing treatment. I would never say anything that distasteful. The game of life is far bigger than the game of basketball.”

The Pistons Ben Wallace talks to the media following Detroit's loss to the Boston Celtics.

The Pistons Tayshaun Prince addresses his verbal spat with a fan during Detroit's loss to the Boston Celtics.