Orlando, Fla. — It’s not new for Lansing native and basketball Hall of Famer Magic Johnson to use X to express his opinions on various situations, especially in sports. Johnson’s commentary usually focuses on the Los Angeles Dodgers, Los Angeles Lakers or his Michigan State Spartans.
However, on Sunday night, Johnson directed his attention toward the Detroit Pistons.
The five-time NBA champion, three-time league MVP and NCAA champion from Michigan State emphasized the need for the Pistons to “get their swagger back on the defensive end.” He indicated that improving their defensive performance in the first-round series against the Orlando Magic is crucial to overcoming their 2-1 deficit.
“The Detroit Pistons better get their swagger back on the defensive end,” Johnson posted on X, “or else they are going to lose this series against the Orlando Magic.”
There are several reasons the Pistons have dropped two of the first three games, but defense has been one of the team’s top issues. Although they have put together a defensive net rating of 104.8, the Pistons have had a handful of quarters this series in which they looked far from the team that finished the regular season with the league’s second-best defense.
During the Pistons’ 113-105 Game 3 loss on Saturday, they had one of their worst defensive quarters. The Pistons allowed the Magic to score 35 points in the second quarter, shooting 52.2% from the field and 44.4% from 3-point range. Jalen Suggs led the way by scoring 12 of his 15 points.
This marked the second time in the series the Pistons allowed the Magic to score 35 points in a quarter. The first instance occurred during their 112-101 loss in Game 1, which is tied for Orlando’s highest-scoring quarter. Johnson’s tweet aligns with the Pistons’ identity and what drove their 60-win season.
NBA Playoffs, first round: No. 8 Magic vs. No. 1 Pistons
Magic lead series, 2-1
Game 1: Magic 112, Pistons 101
Game 2: Pistons 97, Magic 83
Game 3: Magic 113, Pistons 105
Game 4: at Orlando, Monday, 8 p.m. (NBC/Peacock))
Game 5: at Detroit, Wednesday, 7 p.m. (Amazon Prime)
x-Game 6: at Orlando, Friday, TBD (TBD)
x-Game 7: at Detroit, Sunday, May 3 TBD (TBD)
x-If necessary
coty.davis@detroitnews.com
@cotydavis_24
This article originally appeared on The Detroit News: Magic Johnson urges Pistons to ‘get their swagger back’ vs. Orlando
Reporting by Coty M. Davis, The Detroit News / The Detroit News
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
