“Detroit Basketball, baby.” Malik Beasley may have played on several competitive teams in recent seasons, but his pride when concluding his press conference after the Pistons' last victory was enormous.
Because the Michigan franchise is rediscovering the joy of looking its opponents in the eyes and stringing together successes. Jaden Ivey's 3+1 in extremis on Thursday in Sacramento gave the Pistons their 14th success of the season, the same total as for the entire 2023/24 financial year!
The overall record remains average (14-17), but on the scale of Detroit's mediocrity for several years, it is a spectacular leap forward. Especially since Thursday, the Pistons managed to win a match that was poorly started, at the end of a performance that was far from successful. “ It wasn't a great game from us for the majority of the evening, we played like we were enjoying Christmas » coach JB Bickerstaff preferred to smile at a press conference. “ But we must salute the players, they never gave up. And in the fourth quarter, winning 37-22 and winning the game, it's huge for our guys. It says a lot about the character of this group, it’s who we are, we never give up. It was ugly, it was even bad, but we didn't give in, we just found ways to do it together. »
The new lease of life from JB Bickerstaff
The former Cavaliers coach is far from unfamiliar with this rebound. His arrival this summer, and a restructured workforce with the signings of veterans, brings welcome serenity to a group which has sometimes bordered on gloom in recent months.
“ I know guys prey on my emotions a lot » he explained. “ The group just needed me to be positive and supportive. They didn't need me to lose control, to get frustrated with them. I tried to encourage them as best I could. »
“ The coach challenged us, it was one of the first games where we didn't watch anything on video during halftime » added Malik Beasleysharp again on Thursday (22 points coming off the bench including 17 in the second period). “ He came into the locker room and told us that the video was of no interest, that we should just fight. That’s what we did in the second half. »
Three victories in a row in the West
The Pistons could hardly hope for a better way to turn the game around than this 3-point shot from Jaden Ivey, the bonus free throw for the win as a bonus.
The person concerned is another symbol of this Detroit team well in its basketball after two first seasons of being tossed between the position of leader and that of rear, or even between a role of holder and that of substitute.
“ We let him know how much we trusted him, how much we esteem him and how much we count on him » analyzes JB Bickerstaff. “ And that's all he needed. He needed a group of coaches and management who believed in him, supported him. And his teammates do it every day because he gets high in practice. We wanted to show him that love and let his talent speak. We work on this every day, we discuss not only basketball, but also life to show that we care about each other as human beings, not just as work colleagues. . »
Osmosis finally found, the Pistons are no longer the laughing stock of the league and are temporarily in 9th position in the Eastern Conference, synonymous with play-in. A form all the more impressive in a “road trip” of four games in the West, started with a 3-0 against the Suns, the Lakers and therefore the Kings.
“ We must not be complacent, we now know what we are capable of » asserts an ambitious Malik Beasley. “ We just beat three very good teams, playoff teams in the West in my opinion. We have to keep pushing and moving forward, thinking about the next match. » This will take place in Denver on Saturday, as another test of what these Pistons are really made of.
