DETROIT, MI – Woodward Avenue was loud and rocking Saturday evening for Detroit Pistons versus the Oklahoma City Thunder. And despite the fans seeing a closely fought battle between the two, they didn’t leave happy.

Pistons fell 113-107 to the Thunder in what many fans felt was an unevenly officiated game. But if they needed any validation for their feelings, head coach JB Bickerstaff proved he shared the same sentiment.

He started by acknowledging the character and fight of his team, even after star Cade Cunningham was ejected, but he could no longer contain his frustration.

“I’m disgusted,” JB Bickerstaff passionately exclaimed. “We understand we play a physical style of basketball that’s on the edge. But we deserve a level of respect.”

Bickerstaff continued to ramp up as his rant came to a close, as he continued to plead for his team to be better officiated.

”The least they could do is get refereed the same way everybody else in this league gets!

But despite the Pistons perspective of the officiating, they didn’t fold. Which is even more impressive considering Cunningham was ejected.

“Honestly I felt we did a good job controlling the game in terms of how many techs we had,” Malik Beasley said. “But it’s tough.”

And even though the players could have certain reasons to believe they were fighting an uphill battle, they think more could’ve been given.

“We have to be better mentally as a whole,” Beasley lamented. “Including my self.”

Growth Through Adversity

There were many points that Pistons teams from the past few years would’ve crumbled in a game like this. But instead they picked up the intensity even more to help spur a late run after star Cade Cunningham was ejected.

It took a great effort from a top MVP candidate to thwart the Pistons attempt to upstage the Thunder. But they weren’t shaken or overwhelmed by the performance of SGA.

Adding another veteran to this young core has already proven very valuable. Dennis Schroder, who played possibly his best game as a Piston, scored 17 points and dished 11 assists. He has been a steadying force as a secondary facilitator off the bench. But his minutes with Cade Cunningham have also rendered a glimpse of just how versatile this team can be.

Tobias Harris also continued his strong run of play scoring 18 points and grabbing 7 rebounds. He played tough the entire night scoring in a variety of ways from behind the arc, to getting physical in the paint.

The biggest takeaway from the Pistons this season is how much their growth through adversity has been fueled by their fight.

Detroit Basketball is BACK!

That fight is something head coach JB Bickerstaff has shown all season. Even before the fans returned. Way before the hope began to set in, JB was already showing his fight from the sidelines would be more than the fans, or the team experienced the last few years.

From top to bottom, front office executives to the last players on the bench, this Pistons team just has a different fight. And it has resonated with the fans who are proving willing to be more on board than fair weather.

They applauded the effort of their team despite the loss, and were passionate from start to finish to support their team.

Why? Because the spirit of Detroit Basketball is back, and they know it.