Pivotal Ausar Thompson non-call sours Pistons' Game 5 loss

In Game 5, the Cleveland Cavaliers shot 38 free throws to the Pistons' 20, marking the fourth consecutive game with a significant disparity in foul calls. This follows a Game 4 where the Cavs had 34 free throws to Detroit's 12.

Coach J.B. Bickerstaff was direct, stating a foul occurred on Ausar Thompson at the end of regulation, calling it "clear" that Thompson was tripped while going for a loose ball.

This sentiment was echoed by Cade Cunningham, who felt it was "pretty clear it was a foul" and that Thompson had possession before being tripped.

The officiating has become a central point of frustration for the fanbase, with some observers pointing out the stark difference in calls for James Harden versus calls for Pistons players. The feeling of a critical non-call costing a playoff game is a familiar sting for Pistons fans, similar to an incident from last year's playoffs.

The pool report from official Tony Brothers explained the non-call as "incidental contact with the legs with no player having possession of the ball". However, this explanation did not reconcile with the team's perspective, especially given prior instances of similar plays being whistled.

Despite the officiating controversies, we saw some encouraging signs. Ausar Thompson has shined on the biggest stage, with his elite defense and overall impact suggesting he should be a long-term piece alongside Cade Cunningham.

Paul Reed also stepped up, giving 110% effort and proving impactful when on the floor. On the other hand, Jalen Duren's performance has dipped significantly in the playoff series compared to the regular season, with his points and rebounds per game nearly halved and his field goal percentage plummeting.

Cunningham acknowledged the difficulty in generating consistent offense when he's doubled, but he owned his role in finding ways to get teammates clean looks. This season, the Pistons' supporting cast has been noted as one of the weakest among playoff teams, highlighting the immense pressure on Cunningham.

The team now faces another road Game 6, down 3-2, a familiar position that will test their resolve.