Pistons reach 60 wins for third time. Here are 3 big reasons why
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The centerpiece of the Pistons’ dominance has been the big man/guard duo of Cunningham and Duren. The All-Star pairing produced an All-NBA-worthy season for each. Cunningham’s performance resulted in him ascending to MVP contention.
On a larger scale, however, Cunningham and Duren’s combined performance is one of three central factors…
“I remember where they were three and four years ago, and they have grown so much,” Denver Nuggets center Nikola Jokić said. “The players have grown so much. Cade is playing at a high level, getting everyone involved, and he is really good at it. Plus, everyone else is thriving with him. They also have some really good players who play their roles. That’s why they have been No. 1 in the East.”
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Bickerstaff continues to strengthen a strong foundation
When Trajan Langdon became the president of basketball operations during the summer of 2024, one of his first roster moves came when he signed Tobias Harris to a two-year deal after he left the Philadelphia 76ers. The veteran forward’s free-agent acquisition left some people perplexed, except for former Milwaukee Bucks coach Doc Rivers, who knew Harris would be the ideal fit for Detroit.
….However, Rivers became increasingly intrigued by the Pistons following the hiring of Bickerstaff. ….by the understanding his coaching style would align perfectly with the Pistons’ historic, physical, and gritty approach to the game.
“He’s been amazing. There are certain coaches you’d better prepare for when you play their teams. He’s always been on that list,” Rivers said. "He is a phenomenal coach, and I don’t know if there’s a better personality that fits the city as well as J.B. When my man (John Mason) says ‘Detroit Basketball,’ he may be talking abo…..“He has a great understanding of both the frontcourt and the backcourt positions. He has helped me a lot in our system as far as what looks will be there and how I can manipulate the game and how I can get guys more involved,” Cunningham said. “He has a great feel for the game. He does a good job of explaining and translating things to us. He has a great system in place.”
Bickerstaff’s influence on the Pistons’ success this season extends beyond tactical basketball. He also has established a strong culture and identity, holding each player to high standards for all 82 games, regardless of the circumstances that may not have favored Detroit.
“I just love his intensity. He comes from a coaching family, and he’s smart as hell. That’s the part that people probably miss,” Rivers said. “You know this team is going to come out acting defensively, but schematically, his teams do certain things. And what makes him a hell of a coach is that each team he’s coached does different things. He didn’t play the same way. This is not Cleveland basketball. This is Detroit basketball,ut J.B. and not the players, because that’s who he is. That’s who he’s always been.”
…. which has him in a prime position for NBA Coach of the Year honors.
Strength in numbers
“They are super physical. They are super fast. They continued to play well. They execute and are well coached,” Lakers forward LeBron James said. "No different (from when we played them in December). Obviously, the only difference was that you had an MVP-caliber player being out. But when you have a really good team, guys step up.
James continued, “You cannot make up what Cade brings to the table, because Cade is that guy. But other guys have been stepping up.”
The Pistons encountered several challenges that often left them short-handed due to injuries and two midseason suspensions. However, it didn’t matter who was unavailable; each player from their reserve unit maintained the team’s standards and on-court performance.
