The good news following the Detroit PIstons ’ loss to the Milwaukee Bucks on Tuesday is that they know their playoff fate. They will face the New York Knicks in the first round of the playoffs. Detroit enters the series as the sixth seed and the Knicks are locked in as the three seed in the Eastern Conference.
The Pistons won three of four against the Knicks this season, most recently a 115-106 win on April 10.
The Pistons are one game away from completing one of the most improbable comeback seasons in NBA history. After winning just 14 games last season, they more than tripled their total this season — the first team in NBA history to accomplish the feat.
Now, they want that magical story to continue through the playoffs. The Pistons have spent all regular season slaying regular-season demons. They have ended a number of multi-year losing streaks against teams that were stretching into the double digits. They also have some playoff demons to overcome.
The Pistons haven’t won a playoff game since 2008. Detroit has lost 14 consecutive playoff games, including three sweeps. This team feels different than prior playoff disappointments, however.
Previous playoff appearances felt like a team that had maxed out its talent just to eke into the postseason. It’s not that this Pistons team is incredibly more talented. But they have spent all year finding another gear when they needed it most. They have a good mix of young athleticism and veteran savvy. And they have Cade Cunningham, who seems to have a game tailor-made for the postseason _(provided he can control his turnover proclivities).
The Pistons will get their shot to continue this great season. Maybe they win a game. Maybe they win a few. Maybe they can win a series. Who knows. But another thing that makes this season feel special is that it feels like something that is just beginning, not a just-good-enough team on its last legs.
See you in the postseason.