NFL Tickets
I think everyone who follows the Cleveland Cavaliers, as well as the players themselves, are more than happy about the fact the regular season is finally behind us. It was 82 inconsistent games, surrounded by weird social media habits and rumors of chemistry problems, and it’s all thankfully over. The Cavs undoubtedly are thrilled, as the postseason can at long last get underway.
That said, just because Cleveland earned the top seed in the Eastern Conference doesn’t mean the road will be easy. Along with the aforementioned issues the team dealt with during the season, the Cavs are also heading into the playoffs with a target on their back. They’re a popular pick to get back to the Finals, while the rest of the East is seen as also-rans. This means seven teams are gunning to take down Cleveland.
The first of which is the Detroit Pistons. Despite the fact that this a No. 1 vs. No. 8 seed matchup, I’d be surprised if the Cavs swept their way past Detroit. Though not much is expected of them in terms of a deep playoff run, make no mistake, the Pistons are going to cause trouble for Cleveland.
On paper, no, Detroit doesn’t have as much talent as the Cavs. Nobody’s making that claim. That said, the key players for the Pistons are still good enough to make Cleveland’s life difficult.
The first of those is point guard Reggie Jackson. Fresh off his first complete season in Detroit, Jackson has thrived now that he’s no longer sharing the spotlight. He’s coming off the best year of his career, and is championing the “why not us” mantra, claiming he wants this matchup against the Cavs.
Stopping Jackson is going to be crucial for Cleveland, a team which has struggled often this season when it comes to allowing dribble penetration. The Cavs have been susceptible to defensive lapses all year long, and Jackson will no doubt be looking to take advantage. Additionally, he’ll be guarded by Kyrie Irving, someone who’s been a defensive liability through the majority of the season. Jackson will likely look to exploit Irving’s weaknesses early and often, and if Cleveland’s point guard can’t hold his own, things could get ugly.
Obviously, you can’t talk about key Pistons players without bringing up Andre Drummond. Once the Pistons let Earl Monroe walk last summer, it cleared the paint for Drummond. Like Jackson, he also enjoyed a career year this season.
The fact that Drummond became a double-double machine and is taking on a Cleveland team with suspect post defense should cause quite a bit of concern. While center Tristan Thompson can hold his own, the backup options behind him aren’t much to write home about. If Drummond is being guarded by Timofey Mozgov or Kevin Love, he’ll likely have no trouble finding success.
Adding in to all of this is the fact Detroit is oozing confidence heading into this matchup. Based on comments made by both players and coach Stan Van Gundy, it doesn’t appear as though anyone in the Pistons’ locker room thinks they’re about to get swept. Detroit will likely take the court knowing it has nothing to lose, which could definitely give the Cavs fits.
Quite honestly, though, this could be a benefit to Cleveland. The team needs a punch in the mouth early to make everyone realize the path back to the Finals isn’t going to be a breeze. The Cavs have only flipped the switch every now and then this season, a strategy which will send them packing in a hurry if they rely on it in the playoffs. So, if they were challenged early, it might wake them up to the realization that they can’t just coast.
When it comes to giving a challenge, the Pistons appear more than happy to oblige. While I still think Cleveland makes it past this round, it wouldn’t surprise me if Detroit made things difficult early and often.
Share 
