Elimination, Second Stars, and Coaching Questions | The Weekly Drive
The Pistons were eliminated by the New York Knicks in the first round of the Eastern Conference playoffs, but the future is bright. Very bright.
Good morning Pistons fans, and welcome back to the Weekly Drive. Detroit came up short in the first round of the playoffs falling to the New York Knicks, but that shouldn’t take away from what was a tremendous season. We will talk about the games, the shortcomings, the positives, and where the organization could go from here. Let’s get into it.
Game Recaps
Eastern Conference Playoffs - First Round
Game 5: Detroit 106, New York 103
Rapid Detail: That is a gutsy win from a young Pistons team that had their backs against the wall. Following a gut-wrenching loss at home, Detroit could have simply folded at Madison Square Garden. But they didn’t. Cade did his thing (24 points, eight rebounds, eight assists), but Ausar Thompson’s 22 points and stellar point-of-attack defense gets the highlight for me.
Game 6: New York 116, Detroit 113
Rapid Detail: Another close game in a very back-and-forth series, but the Pistons just did not have enough. Jalen Brunson’s game-winner over Ausar will get the headlines, but the Pistons had a golden opportunity to tie it up before a bullet pass went through the hands of Malik Beasley. The final dagger puts an exclamation point on an otherwise poor series for the Pistons’ best bench player - and one of the best shooters in the NBA this season.
The Shortcomings
A Second Star?
Do the Pistons need a second star right now? Maybe not, but it would certainly help. Cunningham was the engine that drove the muscle car forward, but having a second ball-handler and scoring threat would have been better.
Could Jaden Ivey be that player? He certainly had a positive season up until he broke his leg, but there are concerns of his fit next to Cunningham. Ivey’s ability to up the three-point volume, be a consistent rim pressure threat, and play defense will be paramount for next season. If things look clunky, the Pistons may have to pivot.
Trading Ivey right now does not make sense unless the front office gets overwhelmed by an offer, which they likely will not get. But the trade noise may get louder in Summer 2026 if Ivey does not look like a good compliment next to Cunningham.
Coaching Mistakes
J.B had some coaching head-scratchers, namely odd decisions challenging some calls, sticking with his veterans for too long, and not giving enough minutes to the best defender for Brunson in Thompson.
As a Cleveland Cavaliers blogger, I watched J.B make these same mistakes in the playoffs - some of them against these same New York Knicks. This is nothing new for me, but it is frustrating nonetheless. Regardless, it should not take away an otherwise sparkling season for Bickerstaff in what is a Coach of the Year-esque campaign.
Turnovers
The Pistons were a high-turnover team during the regular season, so it should come as no surprise that it carried over into the playoffs. Everybody was a culprit, even Cunningham. High usage players will have higher turnover rates just by statistical probability.
The Positives
Cade is The Guy
As the title states, Cade Cunningham is a star. He was not phased by the pressure of being the best player on a young team. He was not shaken by the bright lights of one of the premier sports venues in the world, Madison Square Garden. And he was not afraid to attack the defense and get to his spots. He is the star to build around, and the ceiling is limitless.
AuStar Thompson
The praise being heaped on the Pistons includes some national media attention toward Detroit’s most gasp-inducing player in Ausar Thompson. He did not have a great offensive series aside from Games 4 and 5, but his defense showed to be more than just helpful - it was game-changing.
Teflon
Most young teams when they get to the playoffs wilt like a flower in the hot sun. Not this team.
Bickerstaff and his coaching staff have full control over the team, top to bottom. The veterans bought in, the young players bought in to both the vets and the coaching staff, and there is some level of immunity to adversity as a result. Whenever the Knicks would go on a run to try and pull away, the Pistons would casually clamp down on defense and do enough on offense to mount a comeback. Even in the rowdy Madison Square Garden, the Pistons won twice.
It cannot be overstated how mature and composed the Pistons looked against a playoff-tested, veteran roster with multiple All-Star players on it. That is growth to an exponential degree. And while the end result is still a first-round exit, Detroit showed that they are not only a good team right now, but a great team in the making.
Thanks for joining me on this weekly adventure for the past several months of covering the most impressive year-over-year turnaround in NBA history. Whether you tuned in once, twice, or have been a diligent reader, thank you. The Weekly Drive will be taking a short hiatus barring big news from the Pistons, but be on the lookout for more words from use once the draft and free agency kick into gear.
Until next time.
Mike