Redemption, Cade's Superstar Moment, and the Cleveland Cavaliers | The Weekly Drive
The Pistons completed one of two 3-1 comebacks this weekend in the Eastern Conference's first round of the playoffs.
Good morning Pistons fans, and welcome back to the Weekly Drive. It’s on to the second round of the Eastern Conference playoffs and the Pistons mounted ahead historic comeback not once but twice in their first round series against Orlando. Let’s get into that and who they will face in the first round.
But first…
Did you know there has been a Palace of Pistons Postgame Show? We’ve been testing it out, and you can bet there will be more of them coming. Alright, now we can talk about the comeback.
Never in Doubt
Where do we begin? The Pistons held home court in Game 5, even though it was a slog of a game. Orlando got within two points in the middle of the third quarter, but Detroit answered with a run. Every time. Paolo Banchero and Cade Cunningham dueled it out in an instant playoff classic where they both put up 40+ points.
Game 6 could not have looked worse for the Pistons, falling behind by as many as 24 points on the road. Detroit not only erased the deficit, but built a double-digit lead of their own in the third quarter by clamping down on defense in historic fashion.
They held the Magic to just three field goals in the third quarter for a total of 11 points. Believe it or not, the fourth quarter was worse. A 19-point second-half is bad, but the Magic missed 23-straight shots (one short the NBA record). A dunk by Paolo Banchero with just under 2:30 left in the fourth quarter was Orlando’s only made field goal in the frame. One.
Detroit, rightfully, beat down Orlando in Game 7. It was written in the stars after that Game 6 meltdown, even if Banchero tried his best to will Orlando to victory. The Pistons won the series, their first since 2008. No need to discuss how different the world was then to now, it goes without saying - it was very different.
Cade Cunningham’s Superstar Moment
The Pistons looked dead in the water after losing Game 4, defeated and unsure of where to go. Here are Cunningham’s stats since that moment:
45 points, four rebounds, five assists in Game 5
32 points, 10 rebounds, three assists in Game 6
32 points, one rebound, 12 assists in Game 7
Those are superstar figures with your team on the line. Cunningham led the way, put the team on his shoulders, and had his first real signature playoff moment that will be remembered in the way we do for so many other greats.
Well this is Awkward
So, after that slugfest of a series, the Pistons will play *checks notes*…oh, the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Well, this is awkward.
If you, reader, are not a watcher/listener of the Palace of Pistons Podcast, you’ll know that I live in Cleveland. You’ll also know that I cover the Cavs for SB Nation’s Fear the Sword. I did a solo pod when Detroit hired J.B. Bickerstaff, just to give some insight into how he would improve things from Monty Williams.
The Cavs will present a different set of problems for the Pistons, mostly because they actually have ball handlers and an offense that isn’t predicated on one guy doing everything. Donovan Mitchell and James Harden had difficulties against the lanky Toronto Raptors, but should have more wiggle room against Detroit. Key word being “should”.
Physicality will be the name of the game for the Pistons. They aren’t a good shooting team, but they are a physical one. The Cavs just got out of a physical series, and the evidence is there that they don’t play well in those type of fistfights. If Detroit can out-physical the Cavs on both sides of the ball, the Pistons will put themselves in good position to advance to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Onto the second round. Thanks for tuning in.