Kuester: Pistons Didn't Stop Battling During 7 Game Skid

Detroit Pistons coach John Kuester acknowledged that the players might have had some confidence issues during the seven-game losing streak that ended Sunday with a 94-88 win against Atlanta, but he didn't fault their effort during the rough stretch.

"Players get down," Kuester said. "They recognize that, hey, it's no fun losing. But I think they always battle, and that's all you can ask."

The Pistons have been shorthanded all season but played hard until the end and stayed close in several games during the streak, which included a brutal four-game West Coast swing that was sandwiched between home games against Dallas and Cleveland.

Kuester said the 117-91 loss at Phoenix on Nov. 22 was the exception.

"The other games, our guys always battled, so I've been very proud of them -- all of them -- throughout the entire season," he said. "So to get a victory is huge right now. As they say, you stop the bleeding a little bit.

"Now, what we have to do is build on it."