The Orlando Magic were able to upset the number one seed Detroit Pistons in game one and Magic head coach Jamahl Mosley thinks rust may have played a factor.
The Magic were forced into two play-in games just to get into the playoffs, so were battle tested coming in and were able to find a rhythm in their evisceration of Charlotte as a tune up for Detroit.
The Pistons hadn’t played in a week and were still trying to work guys back in from injuries, something both coaches mentioned after the game. Mosley said, “They’ve been off. We found a little bit of rhythm playing so many games, so that always plays a part in it...”
Head coach JB Bickerstaff of the Pistons agreed, saying, “I thought we were a little rusty to start...Coming out, giving up a 35-point quarter; that’s not typical for us. It felt like we were just chasing them all night.”
They bring up an interesting point, and it’s one we hear every year, as some believe the one seed is put at a disadvantage by having too much time off, as well as the fact that they don’t know their opponent until the last minute.
I don’t put much stock in the latter, as the Pistons had played both possible opponents (recently in the case of the Hornets), so it’s not like they didn’t know what they were up against.
I’m also not so sure of the first one, as “rust” may be a factor, but health is a bigger one.
For the Pistons, I’ll take the rust if it means rest
I don’t think either coach was making an excuse or saying this is the reason why the Pistons lost the game.
Whatever “rust” might have accumulated, it was shaken off by the second quarter, and some of the Pistons didn’t look like the time had hurt them at all.
Cade Cunningham sure didn’t look rusty as he piled on 39 points, so while that time off may have played a negative factor, the Pistons also had extra time to get healthy and didn’t have to put extra miles on their legs in the play-in, something that should pay dividends down the road.
Detroit had two key players recently back from injury in Cunningham and Isaiah Stewart, so a few extra days off to get them right was a gift, not a hindrance.
But I do understand why this is a talking point, as there does seem to be a sweet spot when it comes to days off and being able to stay in a rhythm, and a week may be too much.
The Pistons and Magic only play two times in the first week of the playoffs, so it’s something Detroit has to be able to overcome, as they have extra days off again. No one will be complaining about this issue later in the playoffs when those off days are needed, so while this may have played a factor early in the game, it wasn’t the reason the Pistons lost.
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