I just rewatched the 4th quarter of last night’s game, and even though I knew the outcome, I still can’t believe the Detroit Pistons won.
The Pistons had a lackluster effort for most of the game against the Kings, their 3rd on this Western Conference road trip, but came storming back in the 4th quarter behind clutch shooting from Malik Beasley and Jaden Ivey.
It was the type of loss the Pistons usually absorb, not inflict on another team and Detroit has now tied their win total from all of last season. They won their 3rd in a row for the first time in nearly three years and are looking like the exact opposite of last year’s squad.
The Bizarro Pistons are shortening my lifespan, but it’s a 180 from last season.
The Pistons are fun
Let’s face it, the Pistons have been a miserable watch for half a decade. They were not only terrible but boring, something you can’t say about this year’s team.
They’ve been the League Pass darlings for people who want to watch close games with exciting finishes, as the Pistons have already played nine games decided by the final possession.
The Pistons are 6-3 in those games, finding ways to win and shaking off the label of chokers in the clutch. Non-Pistons fans are tuning into watch the ends of these games, as you never know what is going to happen.
The Pistons were down 16 in the 4th quarter last night, 10 with just over three minutes left and somehow found a way to pull it out, even though it took an improbable 4-point play from Jaden Ivey.
Part of the problem is that the Pistons seem to either get down big early or blow a big lead of their own almost every game, which is obviously not good, but it has led to some exciting games even if you can’t stand behind their play for most of it.
The Pistons think they are going to win
Credit to Malik Beasley here, as he has brought a swagger and confidence to this team that they did not have last season.
Even last night, as bad as they were, the Pistons didn’t give up and still thought they had a chance to win the game in the 4th even though it didn’t look like it was going to happen.
Part of that is that Ivey has been big in the clutch, with his second game winner of the season. He’s also hit big shots at the ends of quarters several times this year and is evolving into the guy the Pistons look for when they need a bucket at the buzzer.
There is no way Detroit would have won that game last season, but that has changed this year, even if at times it is irrational.
The Pistons are winning games they should lose instead of the opposite
The Pistons really should not have won that game last night. They were soundly outplayed for most of it, Cade Cunningham didn’t shoot the ball well (though he made up for it at the line) and it looked like a sure loss well into the 4th quarter.
Over the last five seasons, I have watched this team lose in every way possible, from blowing big leads, to coming back from being down only to come up short and everything in between.
This year they are banking some wins they probably shouldn’t instead of the other way around, and you can see the confidence growing every game because of it.
Delivering devastation instead of absorbing it
I feel for Kings fans, as I’ve been on their side of that loss more times than not over the last five years.
This is the 3-4th time the Pistons have delivered an absolute gut punch to the other team, and it’s so nice to be on the good side of the punch.
Detroit is doing it mostly on the road, where they have already won nine games, two more than all of last season.
The Pistons are now 14-17, alone in 9th position in the Eastern Conference with a chance to sweep this West road trip against Denver on Saturday. I have no idea what will happen, or which team will show up or when, but I wouldn’t bet on it being boring.