The Detroit Pistons discover themselves the place no #1 seed needs to be. They’re presently on the shedding finish of their first-round playoff sequence towards the Orlando Magic.
The Pistons had the third-best report within the NBA and the most effective report within the Japanese Convention however are only one recreation from elimination by the eighth seed Magic. Dropping to any backside seed can be embarrassing sufficient.
Nevertheless, contemplating the Magic’s well-known offensive points and them struggling to even make the playoffs, it might be particularly disappointing. Worse but, it calls into query the Pistons’ younger core.
The remainder of the NBA knew the Pistons’ offense was susceptible
Star Cade Cunningham has dissatisfied of their first-round sequence, with him scuffling with turnovers. In actual fact, he set an undesirable NBA report for turnovers in a three-game span.
Cade Cunningham has 24 turnovers in his final three video games.
That is probably the most TOs in a 3-game span within the playoffs since TO have been first formally tracked in 1977-78. pic.twitter.com/D7Z2O0uM0A
— ESPN Insights (@ESPNInsights) April 28, 2026
Then there’s Jalen Duren, who immediately appears to have misplaced his fireplace and motivation.
With no clear indicators of life, the Pistons’ season has floor to a halt. Regardless of exceeding expectations at each flip, everybody who watched Detroit this season most likely wasn’t blown away by their offense.
They ranked tenth in offensive ranking however principally relied on their second-ranked protection to hold them in a weaker convention. Nevertheless, the warning indicators have been there.
The Pistons ranked second-to-last in 3-point makes an attempt and below-average in 3-point share. To their credit score, the Pistons ranked third in free throw makes an attempt by averaging 26.3 per recreation.
Unsurprisingly, with the playoffs being slower-paced, in addition to having higher defenses and fewer fouls, Detroit’s offense has run into issues.
The Detroit Pistons’ season hangs within the steadiness
The Magic have loads of size and have packed the paint, with the Pistons unable to make them pay capturing from exterior.
Curiously sufficient, the Magic are up 3-1 regardless of capturing beneath 40% from the sector within the sequence. That’s unfathomable, but it surely actually boils right down to turnovers and free throws.
The Pistons are capturing .419 for the sequence. That’s fairly unhealthy.
Orlando is capturing .387.
Orlando has tried 351 photographs and 120 FTs
The Pistons have tried 329 photographs and 102 FTs.
That’s the sequence proper there. The empty possessions have killed this workforce.
— Keith Black Trudeau (@Charlottean28) April 28, 2026
The Pistons are turning the ball over 5 instances extra per recreation than the Magic and are attending to the road much less. Consider them not getting any simple photographs within the half court docket, and the Pistons are shedding a rock struggle with a workforce that is identified for having a shaky offense. Go determine.
All hope is not misplaced for the Pistons simply but. They nonetheless have Recreation 5 and Recreation 7 again in Detroit. They are going to clearly must dramatically reduce down on turnovers, which have allowed the Magic to achieve the upperhand just by taking 5 extra photographs per recreation than Detroit does.
This has nothing to do with Cade and fairly a bit to do with the truth that the Pistons don’t have any capturing so the Magic are free to pack the paint as aggressively as they need.
I nonetheless imagine within the 22 12 months previous that is about to make an All-NBA Group. That should not be controversial. https://t.co/QgyZrYfUkq
— Sam Quinn (@SamQuinnCBS) April 28, 2026
If they will, and if stars akin to Cunningham and Duren play like they did within the common season, there’s nonetheless time for Detroit to avert catastrophe.
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