Even the Detroit Pistons couldn’t muster such a low prediction for the 2023-24 NBA season, landing the league’s worst record at just 14-68. Even so, they went on to pull off one of the biggest turnarounds in league history. That unexpected turnaround ultimately propelled them to a playoff berth. It’s left the whole franchise and super passionate fanbase with hope and optimism.
Cade Cunningham, the star guard for the Pistons, recently expressed a rush of feelings upon his team’s postseason ouster. He stated his sadness and amazement after they fell to the New York Knicks in Game 6. The Pistons fought tooth-and-nail the entire series. By winning in dramatic fashion, Jalen Brunson’s last-second three-pointer doubled as the game-winner. Villanova simultaneously locked TCU into a dramatic finish.
Tom Gores, the Pistons’ owner, then called an impromptu news conference on the eve of Game 6. During the annual retreat, he laid out his vision for what the team should accomplish. He had expected a good season, but was still surprised just how far they went.
Chiefs’ head coach Matt Cunningham said he had no doubts about their team’s talent. We showed ourselves what we have in this room is effective and conducive to being extremely successful in the NBA,” he said, remembering their 3-2 series-winning, stunning comeback from down 15 points at one point in Game 6. Despite the slow start, Malik Beasley took a moment to talk about the team’s resilience. Even through the playoffs, we battled for one another, had each other’s back, and lost together.
The road to reaching the playoffs was certainly not without its challenges. They probably don’t need reminding that the Pistons experienced many hard knocks all season — including an NBA-record run of 10 straight home playoff defeats. This year’s team showed a fight and will that crudely caught the imagination of fans and pundits both.
We sent a message to the rest of the league that if you’re playing Detroit, you better buckle up. When the other teams step on the court against us, we gonna give ’em a fight. His sentiments were a common refrain throughout the locker room as players celebrated their maturation process and discovered some valuable lessons in their seeds of future success.
Gores credited the team for generating enthusiasm among people in Detroit. “They have excited the city,” he remarked. “I’ve never got the city that excited before this team showed up and they’re just showing it on the floor.”
This year’s post–Season run culminated in fiery anguish but has set the groundwork for many fruitful years ahead. The Pistons went from 30-41 wins to an electrifying 44-win turnaround, creating confidence within the players and fan base. Cunningham shared his heartbreak over failing to pull it out. He wants that feeling to hang over their heads throughout the course of their summer workouts and summer conversations.
And the legacy of this unprecedented season hasn’t escaped anyone’s attention. Cavs head coach J.B. Bickerstaff was particularly keen on getting young players some playoff experience. “Until you get playoff experience, you don’t get playoff experience,” he said. From that opening night the guys did a fantastic job of just learning from each experience and each game. More importantly perhaps, they prioritized identifying candidates who could provide a tangible impact on winning.
While looking back on what’s been, the Pistons are still laser-focused on getting better. In an email last week, Cunningham had promised fans, “We will be back and better.” The resolve instilled by the team’s playoff departure suggests that a bright season is ahead.
Malik Beasley encapsulated the underdog spirit that defined this season, stating, “Nobody believed in us. It was Detroit versus everybody, literally.”
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