The Detroit Pistons completed their comeback over the Orlando Magic with a dominant Game 7 win, but that doesn’t take the pressure off JB Bickerstaff. The veteran coach has gotten a reputation as the man who leads a team from rebuilding to contender, but it takes a new coach to win a title. Detroit is officially a contender, and winning the East is on the table. Bickerstaff must lead the Pistons to the conference finals, or changes could be made.
Cade Cunningham is an unquestioned superstar. Detroit won 60 games and was the top seed in the Eastern Conference. The fact that they needed seven games and a Tobias Harris masterpiece to defeat the Magic is a problem. Many predicted the Pistons to dominate, but that didn't happen. If Detroit is upset in round two, Bickerstaff may be gone.
The 47-year-old helped the Cleveland Cavaliers go from 22 wins to 51 wins. He had three straight years of 44-plus victories before being fired. Cleveland even made the second round of the playoffs in 2024 just prior to letting him go. History may repeat itself if the Pistons go down in the next round.
JB Bickerstaff is still coaching for his job after the Pistons advanced
Bickerstaff has been a head coach for four different teams, but has won just two playoff series after topping the Magic. His career regular-season record is 359-350, but it drops to 13-22 in the postseason. Bickerstaff is the son of a basketball lifer. He got the Pistons out of a ugly rebuild. JB deserves credit for that, but can he take them to another level?
This is his chance. The Pistons were the top seed in the East and should be viewed as the favorites with the Boston Celtics losing in the first round. Cade Cunningham is the best player remaining on this side of the bracket. It is on Bickerstaff to keep winning games, or the noise will get loud again. The Piston will be favored in round two, so an upset could be his undoing.
Credit to the head coach and his team. The Pistons were down 3-1 and looked on the verge of being upset by the Magic. They were down 24 in the third quarter of Game 6 with their season on the line and stormed back. That is outstanding stuff, but it doesn’t guarantee Bickerstaff is the right man to lead the Pistons moving forward.
Fans should celebrate the Game 7 victory and be excited about advancing. The Detroit Pistons have a real shot to win the East and be in the NBA Finals for the first time since 2005. That would be a magical season, and that would keep Bickerstaff in place. The Pistons need that type of run. It won’t be easy, but they just passed a difficult test. Sadly, things only get harder from here and failure means changes are coming.
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