The Pistons took care of business against the Nets last night, but one moment stood out for its surprising outcome. In the second quarter, Ron Holland was on the cusp of an altercation and Isaiah Stewart stepped in not to escalate things but rather keep the peace. This type of emotional maturity from Stewart will be needed in the playoffs.
Ronald Holland II taking DEEP breaths on the bench after Nolan Traore shoved him in the chest 😬 pic.twitter.com/WBvZyQ9yPf
— Fullcourtpass (@Fullcourtpass) March 11, 2026
If the Pistons hope to make a deep playoff run, they can’t afford to lose Stewart to a suspension. Even though the team’s depth has been an advantage in the regular season, they will be at an extreme loss if any key player misses significant time in the postseason. Stewart knows all about that after missing most of last year’s series against the Knicks.
The Pistons can’t lose Isaiah Stewart for petty reasons
Isaiah Stewart has played a crucial role for the Pistons this season. Regardless of who they face in the playoffs, he should expect to have a big role. And the Pistons need him to stay on the court and avoid ejections or suspensions.
Stewart’s impact has gone incredibly underrated this season. Of course he’s a defensive anchor and one of the best shot blockers in the league. But his offense has also come a long way as a finisher, shooter and screen setter.
The Pistons already got a scare without him recently when he was suspended 7 games after a fight. That punishment proved that the NBA will give him harsher sentencing due to his past history in confrontations. Which means that the Stewart will need to be extra careful in heated situations going forward.
It goes without saying that Stewart can’t get a similar suspension in the playoffs if the Pistons hope to achieve their ambitions. But even picking up a pair of technicals and getting tossed early in one game can completely swing the momentum of a series.
Losing Isaiah Stewart can cost the Pistons a playoff series
Stewart suffered the injury equivalent of an ejection last year when he left Game 1 against the Knicks with knee soreness during the fourth quarter. When he exited, the Pistons had a narrow lead without about 9 minutes to go. The Knicks rattled off 19 unanswered points as soon as he checked out. Detroit wound up losing that game by double digits and it was a huge difference in such a close series.
This season, the Pistons won’t be satisfied with a tough first round exit. They want to make a deep run and they’ll need all their best players available as much as possible for it. Beef Stew can help make that dream a reality by turning a leaf and helping his teammates stay out of trouble rather than start or escalate it.