When I think back on this season for the Detroit Pistons, I will definitely remember last night’s win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, which Tobias Harris called “inspirational” after the game.
Harris was watching it just like us, as was Cade Cunningham, which made this victory even sweeter, as the Pistons did what they’ve been doing all season, which is respond.
Down two starters, everyone else stepped up. Tim Hardaway Jr. poured in 32 points, but it wasn’t just him, as every member of the starting lineup had at least 16 points for the Pistons.
Detroit got elite center play all game, as Jalen Duren may have had the best overall game of his career and Isaiah Stewart did what he’s been doing all season, which is provide impactful defense and energy off the bench.
Harris and Cunningham were cheerleaders all night, but no one wanted this game more than JB Bickerstaff, who is always emotionally invested, but took it to another level against his old team.
Last night’s win should be the cherry on top of a Coach of the Year season for JB Bickerstaff.
JB Bickerstaff is the NBA Coach of the Year
This not meant to slight anyone else, as there are certainly other deserving coaches, but last night’s win should all but seal the award for coach Bickerstaff.
No disrespect to Kenny Atkinson, Mark Daigneault or Ime Udoka, but when history is made it needs to be acknowledged, and last night’s victory made history for the Pistons.
They became the first team in NBA history to triple its win total from the previous season, something that no one saw coming when Bickerstaff was hired after being dismissed by the Cavaliers.
To go from 14 wins to 42 (and counting) the very next season is a remarkable feat that we may never see again.
And it’s not like the Pistons went out and added a trio of superstars in the offseason, Bickerstaff has done this mostly with the young core he was gifted and rarely do a coach and roster mesh as well as these guys have.
Aside from that, Bickerstaff bested his old team (and chief rival for the award) without two of his most important players, including his best. JB made the adjustments and pushed forward, just as the Pistons have done all season.
Detroit ended a 12-game losing streak to the Cavaliers and will have a little more confidence knowing they can beat the best team in the Eastern Conference, even without their best player and another key starter.
The Pistons have not only improved monumentally in the standings, as every young guy has improved as the season has gone on and coach Bickerstaff has a lot to do with that. He was brought in to develop players and no one has done it better this season.
The Pistons are the story of the NBA right now and in my totally biased opinion, JB Bickerstaff is the only choice for Coach of the Year.