The Detroit Pistons see NBA Cup victories as a stepping stone to success

INDIANAPOLIS — A year ago, the NBA’s regular-season tournament — which had a name with a few capital letters and no sponsor — was barely ingrained in the psyche of the Detroit Pistons. They were on a league-record 28-game losing streak, with losses in all four tournament games.

Organizationally, problems had to be solved that made the tournament an afterthought.

Things look completely different in the second season of the tournament. Playing in a tournament with a new name – the Emirates NBA Cup – the Pistons improved to 3-0 with a commanding 130-106 road win over the Indiana Pacers in East Group B round-robin play.

Good signs:3 reasons for the Detroit Pistons’ improved start in 20 games

Last November, the Pacers defeated the Pistons 136-113 in group play and then reached the championship game (with a loss to the Los Angeles Lakers).

This November? With a win over the Milwaukee Bucks at Little Caesars Arena on Tuesday, the Pistons (9-12 overall) would win their group and advance to the knockout phase, which consists of three single-elimination rounds – one on home courts before the semifinals and a championship game in Las Vegas in December.

After their loss to the Lakers, the Pacers finished the season with 47 regular season wins, their highest win total in five seasons. Their tournament success was an early sign that they were on the verge of a turning point.

Likewise, after last season’s debacle, an NBA Cup would provide physical proof – in the form of a banner – of the growth the Pistons have shown in the first month. Bringing hardware home has become a driving focus for the team.

“There’s definitely a sense of urgency,” said guard Cade Cunningham, who had 24 points and 11 assists in his return after missing three games with a sprained left sacroiliac joint. “We need every game we can get anyway, but I remember Indiana playing us in the regular season tournament last year and how seriously they took it. They wanted points, they just beat us.

“This game was very personal for us, but in general we all want to go to Vegas and have the experience of winning something. “We’ll try.”

SHOP AHEAD:The best Black Friday deals for Detroit Pistons fans this holiday season

For a franchise that has gone nearly 17 years without a playoff win — since the 2008 postseason — the NBA Cup has given the Pistons a chance to play high-stakes basketball and learn lessons that come with such an environment.

First-year head coach JB Bickerstaff has talked about the importance of getting reps in these situations; On Friday night, the Pistons managed to solve problems in real time and put together their best offensive performance of the season. Despite turning the ball over 18 times, the Pistons dominated with a season-high 57.8% shooting percentage and dished out 35 assists, also a season-high.

It was a turnaround from their performance against the Memphis Grizzlies on Wednesday. Without Cunningham and Tobias Harris, who also returned Friday, the Pistons’ offense fell apart in the second half en route to a 20-point loss.

Defensively, the Pistons were closer to the team that had a top-10 rating in its first 15 games.

“We just wanted to get ourselves under control tonight and make sure we got our defense back, and that took it to a whole other level,” said Malik Beasley, who led the Pistons with 25 points. “No matter what type of game it is, if we keep doing what we did tonight, having fun sharing the ball and having each other’s backs, it can take us far.”

The Pistons didn’t get their ninth win of last season until February 27th. In their first year under Bickerstaff, they are on pace to win 35 games – 21 more wins than last season’s total of 14. They entered Saturday tied for fifth place in wins among Eastern Conference teams.

(MUST WATCH: Make The Pistons Pulse your favorite Detroit Pistons podcast, available wherever you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) or watch live/on-demand on YouTube. )

There were several moments Friday when the Pacers appeared to be on the cusp of a game-changing run before the Pistons silenced their efforts with a basket. When Indiana got within 10 points midway through the fourth, Harris knocked down a three-pointer in the corner as time expired, ensuring the Pistons would lead by double digits the rest of the way.

They scored 13 of 19 goals in the final period, including six three-pointers. A team known for late collapses is learning to step on the gas.

That’s what playoff teams do, and the Pistons believe the NBA Cup will help them become that.

“It was important for us and our guys approached it that way,” Bickerstaff said. “With the exception of the turnovers, I think we did a really good job of doing all those little things that help you win basketball games.

“Our boys wanted to win. They came out with a sense of urgency. We’ve talked about it, but this gives our guys a chance to play important games and see how they respond. I thought our guys did a great job of responding positively and playing with the sense of urgency that you have to play with to win important games.”

Contact Omari Sankofa II at [email protected]. Follow him on X @omarisankofa.

The Detroit Pistons see NBA Cup victories as a stepping stone to success

ByAmelia Pressman

By Amelia Pressman

Related Post

When the College Football Playoff rankings are released: Playoff round information

Paris-Saint-Germain: The calendar for December 2024, games to watch

Sting announces two intimate shows in London in 2025

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

You missed

When the College Football Playoff rankings are released: Playoff round information

Paris-Saint-Germain: The calendar for December 2024, games to watch

Sting announces two intimate shows in London in 2025

What channel is Monday Night Football on tonight? Here’s how to watch