The irony is endless. Less than a year after being released by the Cavaliers, JB Bickerstaff is standing on the other side. He oversaw the young but determined Pistons, who, for much of Game One of the semifinal series, faced opponents his former employers believed he could not handle. And so when his charges recorded a 111-101 victory the other day, the result counted. More than anything else, they played with the mysterious nature of the protagonists they know.
The Cavaliers, meanwhile, continue to look for answers that seem increasingly easy to have. They coughed up 19 turnovers that the Pistons turned into 31 points, while providing some much-needed rhythm. James Harden, who was very intelligent and indifferent to others, embodies this contradiction. He scored 22 points, including 13 in the fourth quarter, only to undercut the effort with seven turnovers. Donovan Mitchell added 23, but his postgame lament over not getting foul calls came to an end. “Maybe I’m fainting,” he muttered after that, the frustration stemming from the sarcasm. Of course, playoff basketball always requires, and rewards, adaptation to appeal.
Obviously, the opening series was decided by the Pistons’ willingness to make everything uncomfortable. And, for this, Bickerstaff deserves a lot of credit. They defend without fail and attack without flourish, often a clear sign of coaching influence. There is both conviction and structure in what they do. They no longer resemble a promising group of young talents waiting for their chance. Instead, they have crossed the border and don’t care to announce their arrival.
Which may be the saddest realization for the Cavaliers. The Pistons controlled the emotional tenor of the game from the first quarter, building an early 16-point lead and surviving any subsequent challenge with poise. Even when the contest went back to tie the score midway through the fourth quarter, they responded with an 18-8 run that was clinical, if nothing else. Their ancestors used to rule by causing mental exhaustion and physical punishment. And, depending on how they competed, they are not cut from the same cloth.
The series, of course, is far from over. Mitchell is too gifted to stay humble, and the Cavaliers offense will only get better going forward. That said, Game One represents more than just a nice change of home field. The Pistons displayed defense, discipline, and belief in equal measure. And somewhere in the back stands Bickerstaff, burned by the dismissal but also sharpened by it, watching his former wards fight against this identity they once took as inadequate.
Anthony L. Cuaycong was writing The court since BusinessWorld launched the Sports category in 1994. He is a consultant in strategic planning, operations and human resources management, business communication, and business development.
