Pistons have a chance to break something the Raptors couldn't crack

If the Detroit Pistons want to beat the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round, they’ll have to do something the Raptors couldn’t do, which is defeat the Cavs in Cleveland. 

The Raptors lost all four road games against the Cavs in round 1 and were unable to pull off the upset because of it. Toronto came close in game five, the only contest in Cleveland that wasn’t decided by double digits. 

The Cavs have been very good at home in the playoffs, averaging 120 points per game which is even higher than their season average, while shooting a much higher percentage than they have on the road. 

The Pistons have home court advantage, so technically, do not have to win a game in Cleveland to win the series, but if we are being realistic, they need to win one of these next two games if they want to progress to the Eastern Conference Finals. 

Pistons haven’t been flawless at home 

The Pistons only lost nine games at home in the regular season, which was third best in the NBA behind the Thunder and Spurs, so they’ve been great at home, but haven’t been flawless. 

After losing all of their home games in the playoffs last season, the Pistons compounded the pressure to win in Detroit by losing game one against the Magic. They’ve bounced back since but can’t act like they’ve been a dominant force at home in the playoffs. 

The Cavaliers had the third-best road record in the Eastern Conference this season, so they are comfortable away from home and could easily steal a game in Detroit if they come out hot. 

Winning one on the road in Cleveland would protect Detroit against that possibility and keep some of the pressure off them when/if they return home. 

The Pistons can’t let the momentum shift 

The Cavaliers are a veteran team who know the playoffs don’t really start until someone loses at home, so I am sure they will come out flying in game three.  

Momentum is a tricky thing and can shift quickly in a playoff series, so the Pistons can’t let the Cavs get comfortable and gain confidence at home that they can carry with them back to Detroit. 

The Cavs may be an experienced team, but they’ll feel the pressure if the Pistons can keep game three close in the latter stages. I’ve said this before, but there is far more at stake for Cleveland in this series when it comes to the future of the team, so that could work in Detroit’s favor is they can keep the pressure high on the road. 

The Pistons can break the Cavaliers tonight if things go their way, but are also at risk of shifting the momentum, so there is a lot riding on this first game in Cleveland. 

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