Pistons' Jalen Duren, J.B. Bickerstaff drop NBA Playoffs mindset
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Pistons' Jalen Duren, J.B. Bickerstaff drop NBA Playoffs mindset originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Detroit Pistons had a long road to get back atop the Eastern Conference. It was Rip Hamilton, Chris Webber, Chauncey Billups, and Tayshaun Prince that led this team back in 2007 to the first seed. Now, the efforts of Cade Cunningham alongside Coach J.B. Bickerstaff and Jalen Duren will get them back to that top spot in the NBA Playoffs. So, how will they go about this looming shot at the Larry O'Brien trophy after such a long time?
Bickerstaff & Duren know Pistons have 'more food to eat'
There is still no certainty of who the Pistons will face in the first round of the NBA Playoffs. It will be up to the NBA Play-In Tournament to decide which team they get to battle it out with. There is still large concern about Cunningham likely missing their postseason run completely. However, Coach Bickerstaff wants to relish in this moment after about 17 years of the Pistons not having this same glory. He outlined what their plans are heading into the NBA Playoffs, via Hunter Patterson of The Athletic.
"We’ll take a moment. Reflect on where we’ve been, reflect on the work that we put in to get here. But understanding that this isn’t the finish. To grow the way this group has grown together as quickly as it has, it is special. But we’ve got more food to eat. We’ll take tonight, enjoy this, tomorrow we’ll get back to work," the Pistons head coach declared.
They are currently head and shoulders above most squads in the Eastern Conference. The Pistons are four wins ahead of the Boston Celtics and seven wins ahead of the New York Knicks. Despite this, there are not a lot of analysts who think that they are going to come out on top by the end of the NBA Playoffs.
Duren does not seem to mind the buzz around the Pistons. He just knows that their fans deserve this glory heading into the NBA Playoffs.
"It means the world. I think we’ve got the best fans in the league. They’ve been behind us ever since I got here. Through the ups, through the downs, they’ve supported us. They deserve it, man, the city deserves it. We’ve got a long way to go, a lot more to accomplish, but we’re going to enjoy this tonight," the Pistons big man declared.
There is still a lot to prove for Coach Bickerstaff, Cunningham, Duren, and the rest of the Pistons. Will they be able to notch the title for the first time since 2004?
