Certain things serve as a reminder that basketball is just a game, even for heavily invested superfans and even when talking about those whose primary occupation is professional basketball. Detroit Pistons head coach Lawrence Frank missed the Pistons' last game against the New York Knicks and will miss tonight's tilt versus the Dallas Mavericks. The reason he is absent is he is dealing with a personal family matter, apparently involving his ill wife.

Pistons coach Lawrence Frank is still away from the team with a personal matter, as his wife is back in New Jersey dealing with an illness. Assistant coach Brian Hill has run the team in recent days, and it's likely he'll coach again tonight against the Dallas Mavericks.

The team doesn't have any timetable for when Frank will return.

"I don't know the exact condition status of his wife, Susan ; it's something they're trying to do the best they can with," Hill said. "She's been sick for a while, but as to when he's coming back, I don't have any inclination."

Hill spoke with Frank after the game, making sure to tell Frank how proud he was of the players' effort despite being short-handed.

Here is to hoping that the next time we hear an update on this it is extremely good news.