The Pistons Got Their First Win and the Improvements Are Impossible to Ignore
Last year, the Pistons lose this game. Tyrese Maxey drops 32 on them and Detroit folds. But this team? This team found ways to win anyway, and the growth is real.
Let’s get this out of the way: yeah, Philly was missing their top guys. And yeah, Tyrese Maxey still went off for 32 points because that’s what Tyrese Maxey does. Last year? That’s an automatic L for Detroit. No question.
But this year is different. This Pistons squad actually did things to earn a win instead of just hoping the other team would hand it to them.
Isaiah Stewart Finally Got His Minutes — And He Delivered
JB Bickerstaff was essentially forced into playing Beef Stew heavy minutes — 34 of them — and it paid off in a big way. Eleven rebounds. Three blocks. The kind of presence Detroit has desperately needed in the middle all season.
This is exactly why there was clamoring for a Nick Claxton type. Not because anyone wants Jalen Duren gone, but because you NEED that rim-protecting, board-crashing presence to compete in today’s NBA. Beef came with it last night. He absolutely came with it.
The question now is whether he can bring that consistency. It’s one thing to show up for a game. It’s another to be that guy every night. But the potential is clearly there when he gets the run.
The Backcourt Finally Got Gritty
Detroit’s guards combined for 45 points last night, and it wasn’t just about the scoring. The backcourt played with edge. They got busy in the paint. They were physical and tough in a way this team hasn’t always been.
Tobias Harris deserves credit too. His shot wasn’t falling, but he stayed aggressive. Stayed greedy. That’s what you want from a shooter when the bucket isn’t cooperating — don’t disappear, make something happen anyway. He did exactly that.
The Jaden Ivy Wrinkle That Could Change Everything
Here’s the real interesting development: Jaden Ivy was the guy with the ball in his hands at the end of quarters. End of the second? Ivy finishes with a two-hand dunk. End of the third? Ivy making big plays. Down the stretch? Ivy staying aggressive and active.
Cade was playing off-ball in those moments, and it worked. That’s a wrinkle Bickerstaff put into effect that could unlock another level for this offense. Ivy’s explosiveness as a closer, with Cade operating as a secondary creator and shooter, gives Detroit different looks that defenses have to respect.
This wasn’t just a win against a shorthanded opponent. This was a team that found multiple ways to improve — from the frontcourt presence to the backcourt toughness to the late-game decision-making. The Pistons are figuring things out.
The Takeaways
- Isaiah Stewart’s 34 minutes, 11 rebounds, and 3 blocks showed exactly why Detroit needs that rim-protecting presence every night
- Jaden Ivy closing quarters with the ball in his hands — while Cade plays off-ball — could be a game-changing wrinkle for this offense
- Last year’s Pistons lose this game easily. This version found ways to win despite Maxey’s 32-point explosion.
Watch the full segment on YouTube: Pistons Get First Win and the Improvements are Evident
