Vince Ellis

Detroit Free Press

Media members Sunday stared blankly at the news release announcing the Phoenix Suns' signing of NBA Development League prospect Jarell Eddie to a 10-day contract.

So you can understand how Detroit Pistons second-year swingman Stanley Johnson might not have known the scouting report on Eddie, either. But that lack of attention to detail led to Johnson’s benching in the second half of the Pistons’ 112-95 victory over the Suns at the Palace of Auburn Hills on Sunday evening.

Johnson was assigned to guard Eddie when he came into game in the second quarter. Eddie immediately nailed a three-pointer, then got to the basket for a lay-up to give the Suns a 30-26 lead.

The last straw came when Johnson fouled Eddie on a three-pointer.

Johnson exited the game at the 7:09 mark. Pistons coach Stan Van Gundy instead went with Reggie Bullock in the fourth quarter. Johnson was minus-17 in a very short run in the game.

“He wasn’t locked in, game planwise, at all on Jarell Eddie,” Van Gundy said. “So he gives up a three, doesn’t make the adjustment to play the way we’re supposed to on the second one, gets the foul on the second one and was more concerned about the ref’s call. … I’m trying to talk to him, and he’s trying to talk to the ref.

“More concerned about the ref's call than doing what he's supposed to do. And then I look at the plus-minus at halftime and I just think, ‘We'll go a different route in the second half.’”

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Contact Vince Ellis at vellis@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @vincent_ellis56.