The Pistons escaped Charlotte with a narrow victory over the Hornets on Monday night, but not before Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart were ejected. It was a costly loss for Detroit and might have further ramifications with suspensions. If the Pistons run into similar situations in the playoffs, not even their newfound depth will be able to save them against the toughest opponents.
The Pistons need to rein in their techs and ejections
It’s no surprise that Isaiah Stewart is one of the league leaders in technical fouls this season. And it’s all fun and games when those techs reflect his intensity but don’t actually hurt the team. However, when he’s getting ejected from games and possibly suspended further, the fun stops.
Against the Hornets, Stew ran out onto the court during a huge altercation to trade blows with Miles Bridges. He was on the bench at the time, which will make him a lighting rod for increased punishment by the NBA. Ever since the Pistons’ infamous Malice at the Palace in 2004, the league has increased repercussions for players that leave the bench in an altercation.
For all the discussions about the Pistons’ lack of shooting, their biggest playoff weakness could be their hot headed nature. In the postseason, refs tend to allow more contact and physicality on both ends. This should generally benefit the Pistons, who play arguably the most physical brand of basketball in today’s NBA. But if they overreact to physical play, the suspensions will be greater than any advantage.
The Pistons have a team culture of toughness and physical play that borders into bullying other teams at times. There's often a fine line to walk between maintaining this attitude and receiving technical fouls. As the season continues, Detroit needs to figure out how to maintain that line better without incurring the wrath of referees and the league.
This most recent incident will likely have noteworthy consequences for the Pistons as they prepare for a grueling schedule ahead. Duren will hopefully not face much further punishment, but Stewart is likely to get a multi-game suspension - especially with his history as a repeat offender.
Over the next 6 games, the Pistons will play 5 tough playoff opponents - the Raptors, Knicks, Spurs, Thunder and Cavaliers. Stewart's presence will be sorely missed if he is suspended for any of those contests. Sandwiched in between this brutal stretch is a matchup against the Bulls that marks Jaden Ivey's first time playing against the Pistons.
Even if the Pistons manage to escape their upcoming stretch with a solid record, they can't count on the same result in the playoffs if a key player is suspended. Just a simple mistake during a brawl can derail an entire season and waste a team's effort in the most tragic way - just ask the 2007 Suns.