It took the Pistons time to find their footing Tuesday night, and Jalen Duren acknowledged some "slippage" over the course of the game. Here's how far they've come: They still smacked the Wizards by 20 points, a professional response against the worst team in the league. The Pistons know the pain of being on the other side.
"We were in that type of situation last year," Duren said.
This year, the Pistons are thinking about the playoffs in March. And rightfully so, as they're percentage points behind the Pacers and Bucks for the fourth seed in the East. One way or another, there will be basketball in Detroit this spring, so "we're gearing up to get ready to make a run," said Duren. That was the message Tuesday night as the Pistons returned from the road, and then defended their home floor.
"It's understanding how important these games are to us, what it's going to take to get the job done and finding that consistency," said J.B. Bickerstaff, who continues to bolster his case for Coach of the Year. "It's not something you just turn on and off, and our guys have found that. They know the level they have to get to, and they can get there and stay there for 48 minutes."
The Pistons needed a few minutes to get there against the Wizards, still a little weary from the West. It was demolition once they did. They opened up a 20-point lead early in the second half and cruised the rest of the way, even as the Wizards tried to dust things up.
A scrum in the first quarter saw Washington's Kyshawn George shove Cade Cunningham, which led to a brief altercation between Cunningham and Khris Middleton. It ended with Jordan Poole shoving Jalen Duren and then quickly retreating when the 6'10 Duren stepped in his direction. Duren was laughing, like Poole should have known better. When the game "gets a little rowdy," he said, "that just turns us up."
"We don't shy away from it. We love it," Duren said. "And if that's the game plan from the other team, then let's bump."
The Pistons are done being pushed around. They're behaving like the bully on the NBA playground again, which is how they've always played at their best. They have the best defensive rating in the league since the New Year and the third best record (23-11) in the East. They're rebounding with authority, led by Duren who's third in the East with 10.3 boards per game. They routinely win the battle in the paint. They make the ugly work look good.
"We just play with a physical force," said Bickerstaff, "and that's our intent, is to be as physical on the offensive end as we are on the defensive end and see how many teams can sustain it. We want to put a ton of foul pressure on people, we want to put teams under duress, make them have to help and collapse in the paint. If they don't help and collapse, we got guys that are capable of making shots. Our goal is to punish people as best we possibly can, and see what team makes the adjustment."
The Wizards tried to beat the Pistons at their own game. They were out-rebounded by 13, outscored in the paint by 14 and so frustrated by the fourth quarter that Richaun Holmes was ejected for throwing an elbow into the face of Ausar Thompson -- who stayed in the game and sunk both free throws -- and Marcus Smart picked up a flagrant for elbowing Tim Hardaway Jr.
The Pistons, well, just went to work. Duren took home 15 points and 13 rebounds in another day at the office. He skied for an alley-oop from Cunningham in the second quarter and threw it down with a vengeance over Middleton, an increasingly common sight for an increasingly dangerous pick-and-roll duo. Cunningham, who calls Duren his tight end, posted a casual 27 points, 10 assists and eight rebounds, which is basically what he's done all season.
YOU CAN'T STOP THIS DUO
— Detroit Pistons (@DetroitPistons) March 12, 2025
Dunk of the Game × @wingstop https://t.co/UjnJpPOobB pic.twitter.com/hHxKuMXwid
"I think any game where we get into a scuffle or a little pushing match, it's just fuel to the fire because we're a team that likes to play with emotion," Duren said. "And when J.B. gets fired up and he gets a tech, it's fun to play under. It's basketball. It's not fun when the game is quiet and the crowd is quiet and everyone is going through the motions. I think we thrive in those settings."
There used to be a price to be paid for opponents in Detroit. The Pistons are restoring the toll under Bickerstaff, who has brought "a seriousness" to the team, said Duren. This was missing under Monty Williams, who lacked an edge himself. A year ago, the Pistons were drifting through the worst season in franchise history. The players were pained. The fans were numb. On the day Bickerstaff arrived last summer, he told the Pistons, "We're not out here just to do this."
"We're trying to make some noise."
"And he's carried that all season," said Duren. "He's the guy who's set the tone for the culture."
The Pistons have their best record through 66 games since 2008, the last time they won a playoff game. More than that, they have their swagger back, their attitude and snarl. They're ready for a fight, and a playoff clash with the Pacers might just lead to one. It's March, but the Pistons are sharpening their game for April and May, with the Western Conference-leading Thunder in town Saturday night. That's where their attention lies, said Duren, "preparing for bigger and better things."
A month remains in the season, but "we're trying to start playing Pistons playoff basketball." When they get there, we'll find out who will -- and won't -- want to play it with them.
