They spent last season lamenting a losing streak, the longest in NBA history. Now? "The winning streak matters to them," J.B. Bickerstaff said after the Pistons dismantled the reigning champs Wednesday night for their eighth straight victory.
"Their thing is, we gotta take care of business because it matters to us," said Bickerstaff.
The last five years comprised the worst stretch in franchise history for the Pistons, who were nearly 200 games under .500. Last season was a black eye they'll never forget: 14-68. They're finally punching back.
They have a rising superstar in Cade Cunningham, whose routine night in a rout of the Celtics ended with 21 points and 11 assists. They have a selfless supporting cast armed with an array of veteran shooters like Malik Beasley, who's nailed the second most threes in the NBA this season, and dynamic young athletes like Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren. They're tied together by a Coach of the Year candidate in JB Bickerstaff.
The Pistons aren't just tied for the fourth most wins in the East, at 33-26. They have the fourth most wins in the NBA during their 22-9 surge. They're hurtling toward a playoff spot and possibly home-court advantage in the first round, where no one -- no one -- will want to run into this runaway train. The worst team in the NBA a year ago is turning into one of the best stories in sports.
Cunningham was seven years old the last time the Pistons won eight games in a row, "doing kid things," he said with a laugh. That was in 2008, the last time they won a playoff game. That team was at the end of its run as one of the most dominant teams in the East. This one is just finding its stride.
"This is everything that we wanted to do, restore this franchise," Cunningham said. "That's what we said a lot. To see it coming to fruition now is a great thing. I’m happy for the city. But I’m not satisfied at all. There’s still a lot more work to do, the city wants to see a lot more. The city wants championships. We’re slowly building toward that, and this has been a great start for us, a great year so far."
'So far' is the key phrase, a reminder that the Pistons are far from done. That they have so much further to go, and not just in the seasons to come. With the way they're playing, they have a real chance to rattle the East, right now. They're sixth in the conference and a game behind the fourth-place Pacers. They're a threat to anyone in their path, their 117-97 win over Boston the latest proof.
"Everybody views the Celtics as one of the top teams in the league, so this is a big confidence boost for us," Cunningham said. "I know a lot of teams respect this win. But we’re not really worried about what other teams think of us or not. We’re just trying to continue to grow each game."
Cunningham is growing at a rapid rate this season, one of only two players in the league averaging at least 25 points and nine assists -- along with three-time MVP Nikola Jokic, who comes to town Friday night. Cunningham is a quiet MVP candidate himself, and the favorite for Most Improved Player. The only candidate with a better claim to Coach of the Year might be Bickerstaff's replacement in Cleveland, Kenny Atkinson, who has the Cavaliers atop the NBA.
"I believe that confidence is real, and belief is real," Bickerstaff said after his team's best win of the season. "When you start to believe that you’re capable of doing things and then you have the confidence that you see growing in our group of individuals and then their collective confidence, I think that’s what shifts momentum. And that’s where we are right now."
The 22-year-old Thompson was all over the court Wednesday night, which is simply to say he was on it. This is how he plays at his best. He hounded Jayson Tatum at one end, attacked the basket at the other and ran the floor whenever he got the chance. His final line -- seven points, six rebounds, five steals, two assists -- is a shining example, Bickerstaff said, of what "I love about our group so much."
"Everybody has the ability to be a star in their role, and everybody around them supports them as they’re being that star," he said. "There’s no stepping on toes, there’s no disrespect. Everybody believes that everybody’s skillset is needed for us to win, so they always celebrate each other in that way."
The Pistons of yesteryear won with defense. Under Bickerstaff, they're finally rediscovering their roots. They ranked 26th, 28th and 24th in defensive rating in the three seasons prior to his arrival. This season they rank 11th, second since the New Year. They don't just play defense; they look like they enjoy it.
"That’s a big credit to coach," said Cunningham, "and what he preaches every day."
The Pistons suffocated the Celtics to both open the game and close it. They were "flying around" as one, Cunningham said, sprinting down long rebounds, "diving on the floor and scrapping" for loose balls. Remember these guys? They out-battled Boston on the boards, and punished them in the paint. Bickerstaff called the defensive effort "outstanding." The Celtics -- who were missing Jaylen Brown -- finished with their third fewest points of the season.
"To set the tone the way we did to start the game meant that we came out with a point to prove, and to hold them to 18 in the fourth shows your ability to close it out," said Bickerstaff. "The execution of it, the attention to detail, we had multiple plays where everybody was a part of it, everybody was making extra efforts. I thought we did a really good job of finishing possessions."
The Pistons are proving a point each game now, and serving notice to the East. And the East remembers: the Pistons are a problem when they play like this, a tight, tenacious team with more talent than others might realize. After three trying seasons in Detroit, Cunningham said he's "lucky to be on a team like this."
"We all feel lucky to be a part of something like this," he said. "Everybody knows you don’t find this everywhere."
The Pistons are finding themselves, and becoming a danger to everyone else.