The Pistons Can’t Close Games Out — and Last Night’s Collapse vs. the Pacers Is Inexcusable

Detroit looked like a real team for three quarters against Indiana, then completely fell apart down the stretch. It’s Game 1 of 82, sure — but if the Pistons can’t figure out how to finish games, this season’s going nowhere fast.

The Pistons gave us hope for three quarters. Then they remembered they’re the Pistons.

Detroit dominated Indiana for most of Monday night’s opener, flashing all the hallmarks of a JB Bickerstaff-coached team — organized, physical, playing the right way. And then the fourth quarter happened. The lead evaporated. The execution disappeared. Another winnable game slipped away.

It’s Game 1 out of 82. Nobody’s hitting the panic button. But let’s be real: this team has to learn how to close, and fast.

The First Three Quarters Were Legit

Give credit where it’s due. For most of the game, the Pistons looked like a squad with an actual identity. Bickerstaff’s fingerprints were all over it — disciplined defensive rotations, smart ball movement, guys buying into the system.

This is what the front office envisioned when they brought Bickerstaff in. He’s a process guy. He’s obsessed with film work, correcting mistakes, and building habits that win over 82 games. His postgame answers reflected that. No excuses, no panic — just accountability and a focus on getting better.

That’s the right approach. But watching a team play well for three quarters and then completely unravel? That’s maddening. And it can’t become a pattern.

Simone Fontecchio Got Hung Out to Dry

Here’s where it gets frustrating: Simone Fontecchio was the worst player on the court last night. Offensively. Defensively. Across the board. And honestly? A lot of that wasn’t even his fault.

Fontecchio was put in situations where he had no chance to succeed. The lineups didn’t set him up. The flow didn’t favor his skillset. He looked lost out there, and that’s at least partially a coaching issue.

Maybe the move is simple: bring Tim Hardaway Jr. off the bench instead. Let Fontecchio find his rhythm in more favorable spots. It’s not about burying the guy — it’s about putting players in position to actually contribute.

Bickerstaff will figure it out. That’s what process coaches do. But if Fontecchio keeps getting thrown to the wolves in bad situations, he’s going to crater, and the bench is going to be a problem all year.

82 Games to Figure It Out — But the Clock Is Ticking

Look, nobody’s writing off the season after one loss. This is a young team with a new coach learning a new system. Growing pains are inevitable.

But the fourth quarter disappearing act? That’s a killer. You can’t play 36 minutes of solid basketball and then forget how to run an offense when it matters most. Championship teams close games. Playoff teams close games. Lottery teams blow leads in the fourth quarter.

JB Bickerstaff has the right mindset. He’s going to hammer this stuff in practice, on film, in every team meeting. The question is whether the roster has the mental toughness to execute when games get tight.

Right now, the answer is no. That has to change — and fast.

The Takeaways

• The Pistons dominated for three quarters, then completely collapsed in the fourth — a closer problem that needs fixing immediately
• Simone Fontecchio looked awful, but the coaching staff set him up to fail with bad lineup decisions
• JB Bickerstaff’s process-first approach is the right long-term plan, but the execution down the stretch has to improve now

Watch the full segment on YouTube: Pistons Need to Close Games Out, last night vs Pacers is inexcusable.