Free Press columnist Carlos Monarrez answers three burning questions from Little Caesars Arena about the Detroit Pistons’ 111-101 victory over the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 1 of the Eastern Conference semifinals on Tuesday, May 5.
How did the Pistons look in the opener?
The Pistons are a different team than the one that staved off elimination three times in the first round against the Orlando Magic. They looked more determined and more disciplined. They avoided fouls, scored down low, shot well from the outside and defended the Cavaliers’ excellent shooters, especially limiting James Harden. The Pistons were in control most of the game after running out to an early 30-14 lead while shooting 60% from the field and converting on nine of 10 free throws. Everyone has had a hard time predicting this series, since the teams split their four games in the regular season and know each other so well. I’m not saying it will be easy, but after one game at least, I wouldn’t be surprised if the Pistons sweep the Cavs.
What impressed you most?
One of the biggest unknowns about this series was how the Pistons would contend with the superstar backcourt of Harden and Donovan Mitchell – a pairing the Pistons never faced in the regular season after the Cavs picked up Harden at the trade deadline. The Pistons had their struggles against Mitchell, with Ausar Thompson serving as his primary defender. Mitchell got his points – 23 – falling just a smidge short of his 23.1-point average in the Cavs’ opening series against Toronto. Harden came alive late and had 22 points on 6-for-15 shooting. The Cavs did make a run and cut the Pistons’ lead late in the third quarter, when the Pistons’ halfcourt offense struggled, and kept it within single digits for much of the fourth quarter. But the Pistons never seemed to panic and offered an answer at every turn, including Ron Holland’s rousing 29-foot buzzer-beater at the end of the third quarter. Even after the Cavs tied it at 93 with 5:28 left, the Pistons didn’t flinch. Cunningham found Duren for dunks on three straight possessions as they pulled away and sealed it.
How about that D?
Well, if you’re talking about defense, then yes, the Pistons did a good job in the first half keeping the Cavs under wraps, limiting them inside and outside en route to a 59-46 lead. As Cavs coach Kenny Atkinson noted before the game, the Pistons play a sound, tactical defensive game, especially compared to the somewhat chaotic Toronto defense his team just faced. Thompson was a whirling dervish, flying around the court with cunning and vigor on his way to eight rebounds while also dishing out five assists. And if you’re talking D for discipline, the Pistons also had a good share of that, too. They didn’t take dumb fouls, keeping Cleveland from the free-throw line until 46 seconds remained in the first quarter. The Cavs were 15-for-16 on free throws, though. And speaking of discipline, the Cavs struggled in that department when they showed their frustration and took two technical fouls – one by former Piston Dennis Schröder and one by Harden – in the second half.
Contact Carlos Monarrez at cmonarrez@freepress.com and follow him on X @cmonarrez.
This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Pistons can destroy Cavaliers playing like they did in Game 1
Reporting by Carlos Monarrez, Detroit Free Press / Detroit Free Press
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