NBA Season/Playoffs 2025-26

[Who]

Detroit got nothing going for them on offense.

Tobias Harris 0-5 FGA 3pts (3-4 FTs) in 18min
Daniss Jenkins 3-7 FGA 8pts in 17min

Ausar 2-6 FGA 5pts in 20min
Duren 3-5 FGA 6pts 6reb in 19min

LeVert 2-3 FGA 2-2 FTA 7pts in 9min
I Stewart 0pts in 4min
P Reed 0-2 FGA 0pts in 4min
D Robinson 2-3 FGA 7pts in 12min

Cade leads them with 12pts and 5ast.

The rest of the team has 6 ast combined. Cade half their assists. Duren with 2 assists. 4 other guys have 1 assist.

[ozgod]

Picked the most important game of the year to shoot 38% from the floor

[Who]

I hate seeing blowouts in a Game 7.

Hopefully DET can make a run. It doesn't look hopeful though. Cade has been contained. Nobody else has it going. Hard to see where a run would come from.

[Who]

J Allen 17pts 7reb
E Mobley 14pts 8reb 4ast

D Mitchell 17pts 6ast 4reb
S Merrill 15pts

4 guys making big contributions for CLE. 63pts midway through Q3 by them alone. Harden quiet with 7pts 3ast. Those 4 guys are leading DET 63-59 by themselves. 

[SparzWizard]

I hate seeing blowouts in a Game 7.

Hopefully DET can make a run. It doesn't look hopeful though. Cade has been contained. Nobody else has it going. Hard to see where a run would come from.

Looks like a Joe Mazzulla offense

[Phantom255x]

Like I've been saying on this thread, even though the Cavaliers have Mitchell/Harden as the Top-2, their chances at a deep run come from the frontcourt also doing well (Mobley and Allen). Those two are asserting themselves today and they are up nearly 30 on DET on the road. Their team's size is an advantage against most teams and they'll need it if they have any chance vs. NY. Brunson and their wings vs. Mitchell + Harden should be good, but Mobley and Allen will need to neutralize KAT/Robinson too. If they disappear or are inconsistent, CLE may go down in just 5 games.

[Goldstar88]

Pistons are one of those teams that are great in the regular season, but fizzle in the playoffs. Like the Atlanta Hawks teams years ago. Detroit should have moved Harris at the deadline. Now he?s a UFA. Not sure how they are going to be able to get another star without his salary.

[Who]

Merrill has been huge for CLE.

[Larry for 3]

Like I've been saying on this thread, even though the Cavaliers have Mitchell/Harden as the Top-2, their chances at a deep run come from the frontcourt also doing well (Mobley and Allen). Those two are asserting themselves today and they are up nearly 30 on DET on the road. Their team's size is an advantage against most teams and they'll need it if they have any chance vs. NY. Brunson and their wings vs. Mitchell + Harden should be good, but Mobley and Allen will need to neutralize KAT/Robinson too. If they disappear or are inconsistent, CLE may go down in just 5 games.

Problem is that front court can?t make up the difference of how bad Mitchell and Harden are on defense. I expect the Knicks to continue to score like they've been doing. You play that size off the floor with their guards. Knicks are way better offensively than Detroit.

[ozgod]

I hate seeing blowouts in a Game 7.

Hopefully DET can make a run. It doesn't look hopeful though. Cade has been contained. Nobody else has it going. Hard to see where a run would come from.

Looks like a Joe Mazzulla offense

So when they make them it's a Steve Kerr offense...when they miss them it's a Joe Mazz offense 

[ozgod]

Pistons 22 FTA, Cavs 42 FTA

[Moranis]

Pistons are one of those teams that are great in the regular season, but fizzle in the playoffs. Like the Atlanta Hawks teams years ago. Detroit should have moved Harris at the deadline. Now he?s a UFA. Not sure how they are going to be able to get another star without his salary.

They are nothing like the Hawks.  They have a MVP candidate and a lot of high draft picks.  They are just young and defensive oriented and lack a second play maker. 

As for Harris, they wouldn't have gotten anything for him.  There was no point in moving him and frankly he is the 2nd best scorer they've had this post season.  They may not even get by Orlando without him.  Which is more an indictment on the rest of the team than anything.

They really need another scorer, but a play maker would also help. For that reason, I actually think they'd be a decent landing spot for White.  Holland, Jenkins, and LeVert for White.  Something like that.  Boston gets some younger players with promise in Jenkins and Holland and a veteran shooter for the bench (though LeVert is mostly just there for salary purposes).

[nyceltsfan]

I think the Knicks wipe the floor with the Cavs.  Playoff James Harden will return and the Knicks will take this series in 4 or 5 games, mostly by double digits.

[Goldstar88]

Pistons are one of those teams that are great in the regular season, but fizzle in the playoffs. Like the Atlanta Hawks teams years ago. Detroit should have moved Harris at the deadline. Now he?s a UFA. Not sure how they are going to be able to get another star without his salary.

They are nothing like the Hawks.  They have a MVP candidate and a lot of high draft picks.  They are just young and defensive oriented and lack a second play maker. 

As for Harris, they wouldn't have gotten anything for him.  There was no point in moving him and frankly he is the 2nd best scorer they've had this post season.  They may not even get by Orlando without him.  Which is more an indictment on the rest of the team than anything.

They really need another scorer, but a play maker would also help. For that reason, I actually think they'd be a decent landing spot for White.  Holland, Jenkins, and LeVert for White.  Something like that.  Boston gets some younger players with promise in Jenkins and Holland and a veteran shooter for the bench (though LeVert is mostly just there for salary purposes).

I never said anything about the players being similar. Pistons are just one of those teams that are good in the regular season, but not the playoffs. Same with the Jazz when they had Mitchell and Gobert. The point of trading Harris at the deadline would have been to use his $26M salary in a deal with other players and picks to obtain a legitimate number two option. I don?t see how they can make a trade now without gutting their roster to match salary. If the Pistons went after Harden for example, they?d likely be in the ECF right now.

[SparzWizard]

Since the Pistons and Celtics are out, the New York Knicks will have home-court advantage in the East Finals. Lucky them