Detroit — On Sunday at Little Caesars Arena, the Detroit Pistons won their first playoff series in 18 years with a 116-94 Game 7 victory over the Orlando Magic. They did so by becoming the 15th team in league history to overcome a 3-1 deficit to win the series.
With that, the Pistons will now take on the Cleveland Cavaliers, who defeated the Toronto Raptors in their respective seven-game series.
The No. 1 seed vs. No. 4 seed matchup between the two Eastern Conference teams will be another long and grueling series. The Pistons split their four-game regular-season series against the Cavaliers, but that can be taken with a grain of salt, given that nearly every game featured a prominent player missing due to injuries.
Ahead of Game 1, Pistons beat writer Coty M. Davis analyzes four factors to determine which team holds the advantage when reflecting on their first-round performances.
Frontcourt
This best-of-seven second-round series against the Cavaliers may hinge on the performance of the frontcourt. Led by Isaiah Stewart and Ausar Thompson, they have been instrumental in their defensive dominance. Although Jalen Duren’s offensive performance at the start of the postseason has been underwhelming (10.6 points per game), he has contributed to the team’s defensive success, averaging 1.3 blocks per game.
Beyond Tobias Harris, who averaged 21.6 points against the Magic, the Pistons’ frontcourt has lacked offensive consistency when compared to the Cavaliers.
Jarrett Allen and Evan Mobley have made their offensive presence felt in the postseason, averaging 11.4 and 18.1 points, respectively. They have also both been at the forefront of the league’s 10th-ranked defense, with a rating of 111.9. They averaged a combined 3.3 blocks against the Raptors, making it difficult for Toronto to score in the paint. The Pistons’ frontcourt might be deeper with Paul Reed’s addition, but the Allen-Mobley pairing has been more consistent.
Advantage: Cavaliers
Backcourt
The Cavaliers have one of the most formidable starting backcourts in the league. The combination of James Harden and Donovan Mitchell has revitalized Cleveland as a championship contender, leading the franchise to a 16-6 record together during the regular season.
Both players pose a significant threat because they can dominate games with their scoring. However, both Harden and Mitchell have faced postseason inconsistencies throughout their careers. It has become evident in their series against the Raptors, which was one of the primary reasons it went to seven games.
Cade Cunningham has proven himself as the best guard and player in the series. The two-time All-Star recently concluded a series in which he scored 227 points, making him the fifth-highest scorer in first-round playoff history. He is also ranked second this postseason in scoring, with an average of 32.4 points per game, trailing only Oklahoma City Thunder’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (33.8 points).
The lone knock against Cunningham has been his struggles with turnovers (5.9). Since the Cavaliers are not as physical as the Magic, the All-NBA guard should be able to reduce his turnovers in the second round.
“I think people forget that Cade just came back from injury,” Richard Hamilton told The Detroit News. “When they see the turnovers that he had throughout the series, the biggest thing for a guy when he is coming off an injury is rhythm and timing. As the series (against the Magic) went on, you saw his timing and rhythm get better.”
Advantage: Pistons
Bench
The Pistons entered the playoffs with arguably the best bench in the league, but the production was somewhat limited against the Magic. The reserves averaged 41.3 points per game, ranking 11th in scoring during the regular season. In the first round, Detroit’s bench players averaged 19 points, ranking 14th among the 16 postseason teams. It’s uncertain what level of performance they will be able to provide against the Cavaliers.
There have been several reasons for the Pistons’ subpar bench production in the playoffs. Outside of Game 7, Daniss Jenkins’ play has been mediocre at best. It also has not helped that Ron Holland II has received five consecutive DNPs.
The Cavaliers’ bench play has been one of their strongest attributes as they head into the second round. They have put together the fourth-best reserve unit of the first round, averaging 33 points per game. Max Strus has given the Cavaliers a major boost off the bench. He averaged 10.3 points on 37.8% shooting from behind the arc, 5.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists during the seven-game series against the Raptors.
Advantage: Cavaliers
Coaching
The playing styles of the Pistons and the Cavaliers reflect the coaching philosophies of J.B. Bickerstaff and Kenny Atkinson.
Under Bickerstaff’s guidance, Detroit has posted the league’s highest defensive net rating at 101.9, while limiting Orlando to a league-low 97.7 points per game. The Pistons rank first in blocks and ninth in steals, averaging 9.4 blocks and 7.6 steals per game, respectively. The Cavaliers have been just as effective on offense, finishing their series against the Raptors with the fifth-best offensive rating (113) and a scoring average of 111.9 points per game.
When it comes to which coach has the edge, the emotional bond Bickerstaff has with his players could be the deciding factor. In this matchup, Bickerstaff will face a team he made significant contributions to during their rebuilding effort before his jettisoning in May 2024. Bickerstaff has a close-knit relationship with his players, which could give the Pistons an added boost in the series.
Advantage: Pistons
NBA Playoffs, second round: No. 1 Pistons vs. No. 4 Cavaliers
Game 1: at Detroit, Tuesday, 7:00 p.m. (Peacock/NBCSN)
Game 2: at Detroit, Thursday, 7:00 p.m. (Amazon Prime)
Game 3: at Cleveland, Saturday, 3:00 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)
Game 4: at Cleveland, Monday, May 11, 8:00 p.m. (NBC/Peacock)
x-Game 5: at Detroit, Wednesday, May 13, TBD (TBD)
x-Game 6: at Cleveland, Friday, May 15, TBD (TBD)
x-Game 7: at Detroit, Sunday, May 17 TBD (TBD)
x-If necessary
coty.davis@detroitnews.com
@cotydavis_24
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Detroit Pistons vs. Cleveland Cavaliers: Who has edge in NBA playoff series
Reporting by Coty M. Davis, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
