Where J.B. Bickerstaff deserves the most credit in Detroit Pistons turnaround
Bryce and Omari on “The Pistons Pulse” podcast discuss the unexpected pace of play and how J.B. Bickerstaff is adjusting to the roster’s strengths.
The Detroit Pistons are on the doorstep of history.
With eight games left, the Pistons (42-32) are closing in on securing a playoff berth for the first time in six years. They just knocked off the top-seed Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night, 133-122, despite missing All-Star Cade Cunningham for a third consecutive game.
They have tripled their win total from last season, clinched a winning record for the first time in nine seasons and currently are the fifth seed in the NBA’s Eastern Conference playoff race. The top-six seeds are guaranteed a playoff spot, while seeds 7-10 enter the play-in tournament, which is played right after the regular season.
So what is the Pistons’ magic number to lock down their playoff spot to complete one of the NBA’s most miraculous one-season turnarounds ever?
Let’s answer all the pressing questions:
Pistons magic number to clinch playoff spot
The Pistons’ magic number is two entering Saturday. That’s two wins, or a combination of Pistons wins and Atlanta Hawks losses. The Hawks (35-38) are the seventh seed. The Pistons won the season series, 3-1, and hold the tiebreaker.
If the Hawks get jumped by the Orlando Magic (35-39), currently the eighth seed, the Pistons’ magic number is also two for Orlando. The Magic won the season series, 2-1, over the Pistons and hold the tiebreaker.
When can the Pistons clinch a playoff spot?
The Pistons can clinch their playoff berth as soon as Sunday. Three outcomes must happen:
- Saturday: Sacramento Kings (36-37) beat the Magic (35-39) in Orlando, 5 p.m.
- Sunday: Milwaukee Bucks (40-33) beat the Hawks (35-38) in Milwaukee, 7 p.m.
- Sunday: Pistons (42-32) beat the Minnesota Timberwolves (42-32) in Minnesota, 7 p.m.
The Pistons have already clinched at least a play-in spot at either No. 7 or 8. They’d have to collapse in the final two weeks to fall out of the top six.
Pistons playoff race in Eastern Conference standings
Here’s a look at the East playoff standings entering Saturday:
- 1. Cavaliers (59-15), —
- 2. Celtics (54-19), 4½ games behind
- 3. Knicks (46-27), 12½
- 4. Pacers (43-30), 15½
- 5. Pistons (42-32), 17
- 6. Bucks (40-33), 18½
- 7. Hawks (35-38), 23½
- 8. Magic (35-39), 24
- 9. Bulls (33-40), 25½
- 10. Heat (32-41), 26½
Currently, the Pistons would face the division rival Pacers in the 4-5 matchup in the first round, with Indiana hosting the first two games of the best-of-seven series. The Pacers won the chippy season series, 3-1, and hold the tiebreaker if the teams finish the regular season tied.
The Pistons this week finally surpassed the Bucks, who have lost three straight and are without All-Star guard Damian Lillard likely for the season (blood clot). The teams meet in the final two games of the season. Milwaukee controls the season series so far, 2-0.
If the Pistons remain in the 4-5 matchup, the winner of that series would play the winner of the No. 1 vs No. 8 series — likely the Cavs. The NBA does not re-seed after playoff rounds.
The Pistons own an NBA-record 14-game losing streak in the postseason, their last win coming in 2008, 17 years ago.
When do the NBA playoffs start?
The NBA playoffs are three weeks away starting Saturday, April 19.
The first round is a best-of-seven series, with the format: 2-2-1-1-1. Each series follows the same format, with the team owning the better regular-season record holding homecourt advantage.
Pistons schedule remaining
The Pistons have eight games left, with the third most difficult schedule based on opponent win percentage (.573), according to Tankathon.com. (Indiana has the No. 12 schedule, .523, and Milwaukee has the No. 25 schedule, .439).
Here is the Pistons’ schedule:
- Sunday: at Timberwolves (42-32)
- Wednesday, April 2: at Thunder (61-12)
- Friday, April 4: at Raptors (27-47)
- April 5: vs Grizzlies (44-29)
- April 7: vs Kings (36-37)
- April 10: vs Knicks (46-27)
- April 11: vs Bucks (40-33)
- April 13: at Bucks (40-33)
[ MUST WATCH: Make “The Pistons Pulse” your go-to Detroit Pistons podcast, listen available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ]
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