Pistons needed only one game to prove their critics right

Critics of the Pistons worried about their scoring and their lack of second star behind Cade Cunningham, and Detroit did little to dispel those critiques in a frustrating game one loss to the Orlando Magic. 

Detroit largely played the game as if they’d drunk cough syrup just before it started, with a sloppy first quarter that set the tone for a game that never felt right. On a side note: I don’t think I’ve ever seen a Detroit playoff crowd that dead. Did anyone even stand up? It was not a good night for anyone in the building. 

The Pistons had their moments, especially defensively, but to their credit, Orlando answered every run and never let the home crowd become a part of it. 

But the Pistons did little to quell the fears that they don’t have enough to go with Cade Cunningham, who had 39 points, but wasn’t able to get anyone else involved. Only one other player scored in double digits, Tobias Harris, who had a tough shooting night, including a brutal 1-of-7 from 3-point range, most of them wide open from the corner. 

But there was one player who was clearly at the center of the Pistons’ problems. 

Jalen Duren has to be better on both ends 

I thought that was one of Duren’s worst games of the season, and he picked a bad time to have it, scoring just eight points as a complete non-factor on the offensive end. 

He only had seven rebounds to go along with three turnovers and was soundly outplayed by Wendell Carter Jr., which can’t happen if the Pistons want to have a chance in this series. 

Duren wasn’t any better on defense, as he was constantly out of position, missed players on a few back cuts and allowed the Magic to pull down 11 offensive rebounds. Duren has to be the second scorer and he wasn't tonight, taking just four shots.

It didn’t even feel like the Magic played all that well, but they shot 49 percent from the floor, and the Pistons hit just 40 percent of their shots, which isn’t going to win you too many playoff games. 

Detroit can’t just show up and expect to win 

The Pistons hadn’t played in a week, and it showed early, as they were out of sync and looked a beat off, which you would expect, especially with Cade Cunningham still trying to work his way back in after an extended absence. 

But there were long stretches of the game when Detroit was simply beat to the ball, outhustled and outworked, which I didn’t expect to see. There was a lot of lackadaisical play, and the Pistons had the vibe of a team that thought they could just turn it on whenever they needed to and win the game. 

By the time the energy level got to where it needed to be, Orlando was already in a rhythm and playing confidently. 

Detroit still hasn’t won a home playoff game since 2008 and treated the crowd to a dud tonight. Luckily, it is only one game, but they need to wake up and show up. 

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