The Detroit Pistons had a catastrophic 2023-24 season; a low level phrases can scarcely seize.
Their 14-68 report not solely signaled rock-bottom for the franchise, eclipsing the 1979-80 group’s 16-66 mark, but in addition gave them the league’s worst report for the second straight yr.
A brutal 0-15 November sparked their free fall, adopted by an NBA-record 28-game dropping streak, the longest single-season skid within the historical past of the game. No Play-In Match look. No playoff berth, clearly. And when their season got here to a merciful finish, they have been lottery certain as soon as once more.
That’s what makes the Pistons’ turnaround in 2024-25 so outstanding. The franchise parted methods with head coach Monty Williams, later hiring J.B. Bickerstaff to instill a brand new identification. Trajan Langdon, appointed President of Basketball Operations in Could 2024, reshaped the roster by including seasoned veterans in Tobias Harris, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Malik Beasley to enhance the younger core of Cade Cunningham, Jalen Duren, Ausar Thompson, Jaden Ivey and Isaiah Stewart.
Cunningham emerged as a bona fide All-Star, averaging 25.9 factors, 9.1 assists, and 6.1 rebounds per recreation, whereas Thompson, Ivey and Duren every made vital strides of their improvement, in their very own proper.
Bickerstaff’s system, emphasizing protection and fast-paced offense, lastly unlocked the group’s potential. The organizational tradition shifted from despair to dedication seemingly in a single day. Towards all odds, the Pistons surged to a 44-38 report, securing the No. 6 seed within the Jap Convention and reworking from league laughingstock to playoff contenders.
And with this turnaround, the Pistons etched their title in NBA historical past as the one group to triple their win complete from one full 82-game season to the subsequent. Even sweeter, their first playoff sequence since 2019 comes in opposition to a Knicks group they went 3-1 in opposition to throughout the common season.
“Our guys are excited,” Bickerstaff stated. “Obviously from where we’ve [come from], how this season has played out for us. The guys have a ton of appreciation and respect for what they’ve done, and they understand this moment, how big it is for us and our growth and development, the challenges that are going to be presented to us. But our guys are up for it, and that’s the best part about it.”
The Knicks, led by Jalen Brunson and Karl-Anthony Cities, enter the 2024-25 postseason coming off back-to-back playoff appearances. In the meantime, Harris, Hardaway, Beasley, Dennis Schröder and Paul Reed are the one present Pistons with playoff expertise. Amongst these names, Harris and Hardaway are the one common starters.
Of these names, Harris and Hardaway are the one constant starters within the Pistons’ lineup.
“Experience comes from how quickly you learn, right?” Bickerstaff stated. “So, being in the moment, people will tell you that experience takes a year, it takes six months, it takes a series. But we don’t believe that. Experience happens in the moment. And then how quickly can you learn from that experience and make the change?”
Meaning Cunningham and his youthful teammates might be compelled to adapt shortly in these playoffs. Their regular-season success underneath Bickerstaff suggests they’ll rise to the problem, and Bickerstaff stays assured the postseason might be no exception.
“We’re not intimidated by anybody. We’re not intimidated by any moment, ever,” Bickerstaff stated. “That’s just not the way our guys are built… Our guys are good enough individually. They’re good enough collectively. They’re good enough. We just have to go out and play well. If we go out and play well, we give ourselves a chance.”
Initially Printed: April 19, 2025 at 6:24 PM EDT
