Pistons face unsolvable problem in do-or-die Game 6 vs Cavs originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Detroit Pistons‘ dream season comes down to this.
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After a heartbreaking overtime loss in Game 5 on Wednesday, the Pistons face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night, trailing this Eastern Conference semifinal series 3-2.
The Pistons were the East’s No.1 seed for practically the entire season, but Detroit’s mettle — not to mention its roster construction — has been severely tested in the playoffs. After falling behind 3-1 to the Orlando Magic in the first round, the Pistons ripped off a five-game winning streak to eliminate the Magic and go up 2-0 on the Cavaliers.
MORE: Duncan Robinson, Caris LeVert headline Pistons injury report for Game 6 vs. Cavaliers
But the Cavs have responded with three straight wins, and Cleveland — 6-0 on its home floor this postseason — can clinch its first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in eight years with one more victory at Rocket Arena on Friday.
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The Cavaliers have presented the Pistons with a problem that Cade Cunningham and company haven’t demonstrated that they can solve. By scheming center Jalen Duren out of the game, Cleveland has taken away Cunningham’s top weapon: his pick-and-roll combination with his All-Star teammate.
In 247 minutes together this postseason, lineups with Duren and Ausar Thompson — widely regarded as Detroit’s best players after Cunningham — have a minus-0.4 net rating and an uncharacteristic 114.6 defensive rating.
Lineups with Duren and without Thompson have an even-worse 118.5 defensive rating, though a more efficient offensive rating at 120.3. With Thompson on the floor and Duren on the bench, the Pistons’ defensive rating drops to an elite 99.5 points per 100 possessions and a gaudy plus-11.8 net rating.
