Playoffs Thread

whitehops · Post #1 » by **whitehops** » Sun Mar 9, 2025 7:47 pm

With less than 20 games less in the season we have a 5 game lead on the hawks to avoid the play-in tourney so I think it’s safe to make this thread.

Right now we’re most likely to play the 3rd seed Knicks - they’re 6 wins behind the Celtics and 4 wins ahead of the bucks.

There’s still some shakeup possible between the bucks, pacers and us as we’re all within 2 games.

What outcome for a first round matchup do you want to see? Personally I’d be happy staying in the 6th seed and playing the Knicks, I think we match up with them decently well. I think worst case scenario would be passing Indiana and playing the. Bucks in the first round - I think they’re easily the worst matchup for us. For years we’ve never had an answer for Giannis.

Pacers would be an interesting series, but I’d be perfectly happy to stay in 6th seed and playing the Knicks. What do you think?

Canadafan · Post #2 » by **Canadafan** » Sun Mar 9, 2025 9:22 pm

Same. Really really want the Knicks. Would be amazing for Cade, and others, to play In New York. On the "grandest stage of them all". I think we would have a legit chance of an upset too. Hopefully they can hang on without Brunson and hold off the Bucks

breezypeezy · Post #3 » by **breezypeezy** » Sun Mar 9, 2025 11:19 pm

I like our chances against New York but it would be just as fun to eliminate Giannis.

Were not a championship team yet, but I feel this team could upset a 1st round opponent in a "We Here" kind of fashion.

MrBigShot · Post #4 » by **MrBigShot** » Mon Mar 10, 2025 3:57 am

Knicks for sure. Would make for a really fun series. We're not beating them, but Indiana destroys us every time and I don't like the idea of going up against Giannis and Dame in a playoff series.

Spider156 · Post #5 » by **Spider156** » Mon Mar 10, 2025 4:12 am

We have the same amount of wins as the Bucks now. We have a shot at the 4th seed. Next game is the Wizards and then Wizards again.

Mr Peanut · Post #6 » by **Mr Peanut** » Mon Mar 10, 2025 6:18 am

Making the 4th seed and getting HCA would be ideal, but otherwise I'm happy to stay at 6 and face the Knicks. We seem to match up well with them and playing in MSG will help to make our young guys more battle tested. I wouldn't pick us to win but could easily see the series going to 6 or 7 games. Unfortunately watching Brunson flop his way to 10+ free throws per game will be painful.

Collymore · Post #7 » by **Collymore** » Mon Mar 10, 2025 7:54 am

I don't see many scenarios where Knicks or Pacers win more than two games against this Pistons team. Bucks might be a tighter matchup if Giannis goes crazy so homefield advantage could be useful in that matchup.

joedumars1 · Post #8 » by **joedumars1** » Mon Mar 10, 2025 12:17 pm

I don’t want the Knicks, I don’t guy why anyone would either. If Brunson is out sure, but Brunson/kat, bridges, hart, and anonboy that’s tough

blog_pistons · Post #9 » by **blog_pistons** » Mon Mar 10, 2025 12:33 pm

joedumars1 wrote:I don’t want the Knicks, I don’t guy why anyone would either. If Brunson is out sure, but Brunson/kat, bridges, hart, and anonboy that’s tough

Because in 2025 his rating defensive is 21

Kalamazoo317 · Post #10 » by **Kalamazoo317** » Mon Mar 10, 2025 2:17 pm

joedumars1 wrote:I don’t want the Knicks, I don’t guy why anyone would either. If Brunson is out sure, but Brunson/kat, bridges, hart, and anonboy that’s tough

Have you watched our games against the Knicks? We match up well. Doesn't guarantee anything and playoffs might have a different feel, but feels like we can compete with them.

SuperBad · Post #11 » by **SuperBad** » Mon Mar 10, 2025 2:42 pm

If I’m picking between Mill, Ind, and NY, I’m picking NY, than IND, last Mill. Nobody wants to be knocked around by our guys 4 plus games in a row, and we end it with two against the bucks, it’s going to be an exciting last month

Post #12 » by **theBigLip** » Mon Mar 10, 2025 3:19 pm

I think the Bucks have gotten in my head. Don’t want to play them even if they aren’t the champions they used to be. Same w the Pacers - they’ve just seemed to have our number the last few years and they got a good coach.

So that leaves the Knicks. We do seem to play well against them, and Tibbs playing their guys heavy minutes seems to backfire w injuries come playoff time. Let’s go to MSG and win a playoff round!

joedumars1 · Post #13 » by **joedumars1** » Mon Mar 10, 2025 4:06 pm

Kalamazoo317 wrote:
joedumars1 wrote:I don’t want the Knicks, I don’t guy why anyone would either. If Brunson is out sure, but Brunson/kat, bridges, hart, and anonboy that’s tough

Have you watched our games against the Knicks? We match up well. Doesn't guarantee anything and playoffs might have a different feel, but feels like we can compete with them.

No I haven’t, but kat is coming off a wcf. I just don’t feel they are the team you’d want to mess with, assuming Brunson is good to go. Rather Indiana, really magic tho(idk seeding atm, phone loading slow), but to be able to have this convo is sweet.

Post #14 » by **Snakebites** » Mon Mar 10, 2025 4:07 pm

Still in "just get in" mindset. Keep the Magic and Hawks at bay, stay out of the play-in. Just get us there.

Regardless of the in-season matchup we're underdogs against any of these three alternatives- I still don't think we're ready to take any of them down in an intense 7 game series.

I'd rather we finish the season super strong and end up in the 4/5 seed. Not because I care about the matchup but because I'd rather see us close out the season very well. That would enhance my hope for the future.

joedumars1 · Post #15 » by **joedumars1** » Mon Mar 10, 2025 4:07 pm

blog_pistons wrote:
joedumars1 wrote:I don’t want the Knicks, I don’t guy why anyone would either. If Brunson is out sure, but Brunson/kat, bridges, hart, and anonboy that’s tough

Because in 2025 his rating defensive is 21

Yeah he’s just 1 of 5 guys, but to be able to have this convo is pretty cool.

the_l_train · Post #16 » by **the_l_train** » Mon Mar 10, 2025 4:57 pm

joedumars1 wrote:
Kalamazoo317 wrote:
joedumars1 wrote:I don’t want the Knicks, I don’t guy why anyone would either. If Brunson is out sure, but Brunson/kat, bridges, hart, and anonboy that’s tough

Have you watched our games against the Knicks? We match up well. Doesn't guarantee anything and playoffs might have a different feel, but feels like we can compete with them.

No I haven’t, but kat is coming off a wcf. I just don’t feel they are the team you’d want to mess with, assuming Brunson is good to go. Rather Indiana, really magic tho(idk seeding atm, phone loading slow), but to be able to have this convo is sweet.

Your logic makes sense if you are not watching these games…have you seen us vs Bucks or Pacers?

I am on the Knicks train (especially with the recent Brunson/KAT injuries)…wild to think we have a better shot at winning a series without home court against the higher seed than a potential home court vs Pacers/Bucks.

Both those teams potentially rip our heart out…Giannis probably is our worst matchup in the league and has owned us for a decade +.

Can’t handle the thought of Haliburton doing another one of those retaliation shimmys in a game that matters. Beef Stew will get ejected every game. Winning a series over them would feel the best but also hurt the most.

Hate to admit it but I would maybe prefer a second round vs Celtics/Cavs than to face Pacers/Bucks…that is how bad it is.

tmorgan · Post #17 » by **tmorgan** » Mon Mar 10, 2025 5:03 pm

Beating Indiana would feel the best, but they have the young-ish wings to run with us and negate our play style advantage. That and Turner roasts Duren on the regular.

Still prefer New York, especially if we stay 6th. Expectations will be low, but we already know we can play with them. I don’t expect to win the series, but I do expect to win at least a game, and for the games to be competitive.

blog_pistons · Post #18 » by **blog_pistons** » Mon Mar 10, 2025 5:06 pm

the_l_train wrote:
joedumars1 wrote:
Kalamazoo317 wrote:
Have you watched our games against the Knicks? We match up well. Doesn't guarantee anything and playoffs might have a different feel, but feels like we can compete with them.

No I haven’t, but kat is coming off a wcf. I just don’t feel they are the team you’d want to mess with, assuming Brunson is good to go. Rather Indiana, really magic tho(idk seeding atm, phone loading slow), but to be able to have this convo is sweet.

Your logic makes sense if you are not watching these games…have you seen us vs Bucks or Pacers?

I am on the Knicks train (especially with the recent Brunson/KAT injuries)…wild to think we have a better shot at winning a series without home court against the higher seed than a potential home court vs Pacers/Bucks.

Both those teams potentially rip our heart out…Giannis probably is our worst matchup in the league and has owned us for a decade +.

Can’t handle the thought of Haliburton doing another one of those retaliation shimmys in a game that matters. Beef Stew will get ejected every game. Winning a series over them would feel the best but also hurt the most.

Hate to admit it but I would maybe prefer a second round vs Celtics/Cavs than to face Pacers/Bucks…that is how bad it is.

The Pacers present us with two complicated problems. The first is Myles Turner's Pick and Pop. I suppose we will come up with something to stop him but we saw yesterday that Duren finds these situations very difficult, perhaps Stewart is more annoying. It would have to be seen. And the other is attack dogs against Cade, it would probably force us to play Schroder or Sasser along with Cade more minutes instead of THJ.

Against the Bucks I don't know what response we would really have because I feel like their best defender (last year) was Stewart. But I don't know to what extent we can maximize that quintet obviously without Duren. I'm intrigued to see how we would handle it. Lillard would have Ausar on him at all times.

I think the Cavs and Boston are a step above especially in percentages of 3 which is criminal in the playoffs.

Writing this, it seems to me that perhaps we need that center shooter profile that we don't have.

blog_pistons · Post #19 » by **blog_pistons** » Mon Mar 10, 2025 7:36 pm

Pistons since the trade deadline

- 11-3 record (T-3rd in NBA)
- 1st in NBA in defensive rating
- 1st in NBA in opponent paint PTS
- 1st in NBA in fast break PTS
- 2nd in NBA in PTS off turnovers
- 3rd in NBA in net rating
- 3rd in NBA in opponent eFG%
- 3rd in NBA in rebound%

NYPiston · Post #20 » by **NYPiston** » Mon Mar 10, 2025 10:04 pm

The Pistons probably match up best with the Knicks but I think they can compete with any of these teams. The problem is that their entire core has never played in a playoff game or even any meaningful regular season so I worry that they won't be ready for playoff intensity which is ratcheted up tenfold from regular season intensity.

It's all perspective really. Simply being a top 6 playoff seed is a huge accomplishment for this group and beyond any of our realistic wildest projections. Even .500 was an unrealistic projection so the Pistons have already had a successful season even if they get swept in the 1st round.