Non-call leads to Pistons sustaining a controversial Game 4 loss to Knicks
The Detroit Pistons sustained a heartbreaking and controversial 94-93 Game 4 loss to the New York Knicks.
New York — The Detroit Pistons were enjoying good vibes on Tuesday morning inside Madison Square Garden. The players joked with each other while getting up shots post-shootaround, while J.B. Bickerstaff sang along to the hip-hop music that was blasting on the team’s Bluetooth speaker.
From the outside looking in, the Detroit Pistons did not appear to be a team still rattled about the controversial non-call that led to a 94-93 Game 4 loss on Sunday. They did not seem flustered by the fact that Game 5 was a potential first-round elimination contest against the New York Knicks.
“Everybody got over (Game 4) quickly,” Ausar Thompson told The Detroit News. “We know it was a tough game, and we felt like we should have had a chance to win it. But once you lose it, you can’t continue to dwell on it. Anything could have made the series 2-2 instead of 3-1.”
While the Pistons would have preferred to have the series tied as they returned to New York, facing a 3-1 deficit presented them with an opportunity to draw on the resilience that has characterized their season.
“We have been doubted since Day 1,” Jalen Duren said prior to Game 5. “Nobody believed we would be able to come this far. We have always had our backs against the wall. Being in this position is nothing new for us. We thrive in positions like this. I believe as long as we continue to stick together, we will continue to have success.”
From overcoming injuries to maneuvering their way through hostile environments, the Pistons faced numerous obstacles during their season of revival. Togetherness and confidence are two intangibles that enabled the team to overcome the hurdles they faced this season.
In the first four games of their first-round series against the Knicks, several unfavorable moments that affected the Pistons were beyond their control. Yet, they have continued to talk about what they could improve upon to avoid elimination. Turnovers have been a significant detriment to their success, resulting in an average of 17.5 giveaways this postseason.
“For me and the team, the No. 1 thing we can clean up is our turnovers — especially me,” Thompson said. “I’ve turned the ball over a decent amount of times this series when trying to make plays. I am still going to be aggressive, but I need to keep the ball as well.”
Thompson understands that he has been far from the player who came into the series as a major X-factor for Detroit. His numbers have dipped tremendously this postseason, averaging 7.5 points, 4.5 rebounds and 2.8 turnovers.
Consistent foul trouble has been the primary reason for Thompson’s lack of production. The second-year forward has averaged 4.3 fouls per game, limiting him to 20.8 minutes, the lowest among Bickerstaff’s playoff rotation. However, instead of blaming the officiating, Thompson believes he can find a way to maintain his assertive defense while avoiding foul trouble.
“He’s good; he understands the challenge that’s in front of him,” Bickerstaff said. “We don’t want him to change because the whistle changes night by night. And what you’ve kind of seen is the amount of foul calls, the attention to that matchup (with Jalen Brunson), but Ausar has to be Ausar.
“There are so many things that he brings to the table that we just got to have him out there. But we can’t expect him, or don’t want him, to change. Because on any given night, the whistle changes for him.”
For the Pistons, one is the magic number. Instead of focusing on winning three consecutive games, they are tackling their 3-1 deficit one contest at a time. Ahead of Game 5, the team’s primary goal was to improve upon their mistakes from Game 4 in an attempt to bring their first-round series back to Detroit on Thursday.
Facing elimination is never ideal for any team competing for the Larry O’Brien Trophy. However, the Pistons are encouraged by the fact that even the slightest improvement would improve their chances of keeping their season alive.
“Nothing will ever change for us; we will continue to play Pistons Basketball,” Duren said. “No one is hanging their heads. This series is not over for us, and we are still fighting. We still have a pulse. As long as we are still playing, we will be alright.”
coty.davis@detroitnews.com
@cotydavis_24
