DETROIT, MI – The Detroit Pistons have made good on their preseason promise to compete every night. The positive start has sparked a feeling fans haven’t felt in a long time.

Belief.

Trajan Langdon’s vision has taken root and sprouted early returns which fans are happily consuming. After starting the season 0-4 and working to establish offensive and defensive cohesion, the Pistons have played .500 basketball.

And even more surprisingly they’ve been in postseason positioning most the year, a testament to head coach JB Bickerstaff. Players have credited him with bringing structure, clear instruction and a sideline demeanor that has his team ready to run through every brick wall.

”He’s been great,” Isaiah Stewart happily quipped about JB Bickerstaff. “One thing I love is when the game is going, he’s right there on the sideline firing us up!”

“Feels like he’s in the game with us, and that type of stuff makes us want to run through a brick wall.”

The progress was kick-started thanks to a change in leadership, while focusing the direction of the franchise under Langdon’s singular vision. From filling out the front office, tabbing JB Bickerstaff as head coach, and even hiring renown shooting coach Fred Vinson before him! And then Langdon wisely sprinkled in some of the veteran leadership and outside shooting they’ve lacked.

That was the demise of the prior front office executive who dubbed his rebuild, the “Restore”. The name was to signify turning the franchise back to winning ways liked during the Bad Boys and Going to Work eras. It was to be a rising of the phoenix moment for the Pistons who were torn down to the studs before Weaver’s hiring.

Beyond the Past

Troy Weaver assembled a good young core, but failed to build properly around them. Which ultimately lead to his dismissal after 4 years and 2 of the worst record in Pistons history. His tenure started with a restore to the championship identity in mind for his rebuild. But after mass buy in from supporters, things unceremoniously fell apart and fans demanded change. So did team owner Tom Gores who quickly moved in the current direction soon after the season ended.

Make no mistake the Pistons are far from a finished product, but it is far better than prior attempts to get things on the right tracks.

And this time the name of this rebuild attempt has no fancy frills, but is rooted in one of the core principles of Detroit identity. Working hard.

The latest campaign titled ‘Do Work’ embodies much that we’ve seen play out on the court to start the season. Which has been fuel for the returning fan belief and optimism felt everywhere from the games to social media.

The Do Work campaign is also an admittance to how far they have to go, and naturally how much they must work. No complaining, just working. Sounds simple enough, but the some of these foundational steps didn’t seem to be laid as effectively under previous coach Month Williams.

This team has shown an improved ability to handle adversity as the season has gone on, which has aided their unexpected success.

Pistons Beat Magic, But Lose Ivey!

But now they will be faced with their first big test of adversity after the injury of Jaden Ivey.

The Pistons defeated the Magic 105-96 to move higher in postseason positioning, but it came at a cost. Just how big a cost is still to be determined, but things didn’t look good initially.

The Magic’s Cole Anthony collided with the Ivey during a scramble for a loose ball which resulted in a lower leg injury. Ivey crashed to the floor writhing in pain as players from both teams gathered around, before Pistons medical team rushed the floor.

The entire arena went silent, and then collective worry could be heard and felt from the crowd. Chants of “Ivey” filled Little Caesars Arena as he was fitted for a cast, placed on a stretcher and wheeled out. It was a very tough moment for anyone watching, no matter which team they were rooting for.

Pistons Win It For Ivey

“It’s tough on all of us,” Bickerstaff stated. “No better teammate, person, than J.I. (Jaden Ivey). No one
cares more about this thing than him. It’s tough to see.”

Ivey’s teammates were visibly shaken with many players, including Ausar Thompson, moved to tears. Pistons star Cade Cunningham and this team wanted to win this game for Ivey, despite the shock of the moment.

“We said a prayer for him and just wanted to collect ourselves and talk about it,” Cunningham said. “Make sure everyone was on the same page about what we had to go do from that point on and know who we were doing it for.

“Seeing that happen, that was tough on us.”

But the Detroit Pistons proved once again that their brotherhood bond and overcoming adversity are integral parts of their DNA.

“They are about each other,” Bickerstaff said. “They banded together because they know it’s what he (Jaden Ivey) would’ve wanted them to do.”