Detroit – They’ll wait you out. They’ll wear you out. And then, when the moment is right and the tension is ripe, they’ll rip your soul out.
It took a while and required unexpected heavy lifting against the upstart Magic, but the Pistons rediscovered who they are at just the right time. From shaky to smothering, the Pistons touched every level in the opening round, showing how dominant they can be, and how intense they must remain.
Game 7 at Little Caesars Arena became a formality once the Pistons started rolling. They completed a rare rally from a 3-1 series deficit to oust the Magic with a 116-94 pummeling Sunday in Little Caesars Arena. It was the franchise’s first playoff series victory since 2008, and as the crowd spent the second half standing and roaring, you could squeeze your eyes shut and conjure the echoes of postseasons past.
This is what a No. 1 seed is supposed to do to a No. 8, so the Pistons get no extra bouquets. They do get a second-round matchup with Cleveland starting Tuesday night here, and that could be another seven-game sweat. But mostly what the Pistons extracted from this series is a reminder of who they are and how they win.
With stifling pressure defense and opportunistic offense. With Cade Cunningham painting a spectacular seven-game picture, capped by 32 points and 12 assists. With Tobias Harris, growing more sage with age, erupting when the game was still in doubt, finishing with 30 points. With Daniss Jenkins sparking off the bench with 16 points. With Ausar Thompson creating constant havoc and Jalen Duren, one of those who lost his way, stomping back with 15 points and 15 rebounds.
In the process, the Pistons dodged the specter of major embarrassment, and maybe, just maybe, they needed to feel it to understand. Only six No. 1 seeds in NBA history have lost to an eight, and it certainly seemed possible when the Magic came to Detroit four days ago with a big lead. Instead, the Pistons became the 15th team ever to win a series after trailing 3-1.
“I think it was great for us,” J.B. Bickerstaff said. “When you’re going through these playoff series, you have to be battle-tested. To do what we did only made us better for the next one.”
And how did he think the Pistons turned it around?
“Be honest with you, I never doubted we were gonna win this series,” he said, his tone unwavering. “And that’s the truth of the matter.”
The truth is, the truth didn’t start to reveal itself until the second half of Game 6 in Orlando, when the Pistons launched a historic comeback, setting all sorts of NBA defensive records. They outscored the Magic 55-19 in the second half, 31-8 in the fourth quarter, to erase a 24-point deficit and win 93-79.
Was there much doubt they’d pick right back up at home for Game 7? Not really.
Old-school Pistons mayhem
Not when they stepped onto the LCA court and the crowd greeted them with a raucous fervor as if it was Game 7 of the NBA Finals. This was old-school Pistons mayhem, a fan base starved to celebrate as it did nearly two decades ago, and a team feeding off the energy, pushed by the danger.
The Magic were a worthy upstart, despite losing second-leading scorer Franz Wagner. Paolo Banchero scored the Magic’s first 11 points Sunday (he finished with 38), and the game stayed sticky for a while. Until Harris took over, scoring 17 points in the second quarter, including a 14-point flurry that turned a 45-45 tie into a 60-49 halftime lead.
It evoked visions of epic franchise efforts, and sure enough, legends Isiah Thomas, Richard Hamilton, Ben Wallace, Vinnie Johnson and James Edwards were watching from the stands. Harris, 33, scored at least 20 points in the last five games, after not reaching 20 back-to-back all season. He averaged 21.6 ppg in the series, and hey, maybe the answer to the Pistons’ hunt for a No. 2 scorer was on the team all along?
“I was just staying in the moment, I know what I’m capable of with the right opportunities,” Harris said. “I’m extremely proud of this group, and the resilience all year long. On the road, down 22 at the half, willing ourselves back, and just believing. That’s what this team is about, that’s what this city is about, that’s what our fans are about.”
Obviously, some doubted what they were about when Orlando ripped off three victories, all by at least six points. They weren’t magical miraculous outcomes. The Pistons were getting outworked, beaten in the paint, turning the ball over.
Losing Wagner affected Orlando, no doubt. Losing their grip on a series they were heavily favored to win affected the Pistons, no doubt.
Duren was especially bothered, averaging only 9.8 points and 8.5 rebounds before Sunday. His defense and power at the rim were back in full force for Game 7. If you wonder where it went, it’s important to remember Duren is still only 22 and facing expectations and criticism he’d rarely felt.
“I know who I am, I know who this team is,” Duren said. “The outside noise – I know y’all are gonna do what you’re supposed to do because media creates narratives. In the locker room we know who we are. We’re some dawgs, and when our backs are against the wall, the whole world counts us out, it’s time to keep swinging. I never doubted anything.”
When doubt stirred, the Pistons found answers, the type of responses that should help them in the next round. For instance, while the celebration was unfolding in the arena Sunday, the Magic quietly cut the Pistons’ 25-point lead to 14 with four minutes left.
On the next play, Cunningham lofted an alley-oop for a Duren dunk. Seconds later, Harris heaved in another 3 for a 19-point lead and the threat was past, the task was done. An exhausting task for sure, but also an invigorating and enlightening one. Cunningham looked happy and relieved after his first series victory, only two years removed from a 14-68 season.
He wearily joked he was glad the NBA didn’t require an eight-game series, and expressed gratitude to the Magic for the severe test.
“Playoff basketball is a lot of fun, so intense, so much on the line,” Cunningham said. “Credit to the Magic, they pushed us, really made us take a look in the mirror. Thankfully we got out of this. It wasn’t the way we would’ve drawn it up but we’ll take it, and we’re gonna be better for it.”
They’ll need to be better, because in case anyone forgot, that’s how playoff runs unfold. Everything ratchets with every round. Cunningham is the star they count on, but a series script can veer wildly, as we just saw. Others will be called upon, and it was important for the Pistons to show they have others ready for the moment.
Bob.wojnowski@detroitnews.com
@bobwojnowski
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Wojo: Pistons got tested and pounded back, a good sign in crazy playoffs
Reporting by Bob Wojnowski, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
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