The Detroit Pistons aren't just taking on J.B. Bickerstaff's former team in round two, but they're also set to face off against an old friend in Dennis Schroder.
It's safe to say that at this point in his career, the veteran guard isn't the most dangerous threat in the league, and with the likes of James Harden and Donovan Mitchell filling out the Cavaliers' lineup, he's certainly not the most dangerous threat on Cleveland's roster.
At the same time, though, Schroder may be the hidden advantage that head coach Kenny Atkinson and the Cavs have in this series, especially considering the playmaker spent the end of last season helping the Pistons make a postseason push of their own.
Fast forward one year later, Schroder is no longer the Pistons' secret weapon, but now one for the Cavaliers in a series matchup that decides who advances to the Eastern Conference Finals.
Dennis Schroder knows how the Pistons like to play
Schroder's time in the Motor City was brief, suiting up in only 28 regular-season games and six playoff games for the Pistons.
Still, the former first-round pick was heavily involved in Detroit's game plan, averaging 25+ minutes in all of the 34 combined games he suited up in.
Obviously, this season's Detroit squad looks a bit different than last year's squad.
Jalen Duren has become a monster in the post (at least he was in the regular season), and the Pistons have added several new faces with Duncan Robinson, Caris LeVert, and Kevin Huerter coming to mind.
The team has been forced to find new ways to win, and up to this point, they've done exactly that.
That doesn't change the fact that Schroder spent extended time scheming with the Pistons at this time last season, which, regardless of how brief his time was, gives him an edge in understanding how Bickerstaff and Detroit like to play and what mismatches they look for against certain personnel.
The good news? Detroit is equipped to adjust.
Detroit has advantages of their own
The Pistons didn't stumble their way to the No. 1 seed by accident.
Detroit has the talent on the roster that got them to this point, and with Bickerstaff's recent extension, it's clear the team believes he's the man for the job.
Now he'll have the perfect opportunity to prove why, by making the adjustments needed and game planning to use the Cavs' weaknesses to their strengths.
The Pistons have a defensive ace in Ausar Thompson to make life miserable for the Cavaliers' backcourt, sharpshooters who can finally carve out a sizable role in this series and a matchup that could allow Jalen Duren to snap out of his rough stretch.
This series could easily unfold in the Pistons' favor, and it all starts with how quickly the team can set the tone against the familiar faces that make this series personal.
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