NBA playoff preview: DET/ORL, PDX/SAS
PREVIOUSLY: NYK/ATL, TOR/CLE, LAL/HOU, DEN/MIN, BOS/PHI, OKC/PHX.
The Pistons must slay three of the East's would-be championship contenders on the way toward the Detroit's first Finals in 21-years. Zero gimmies, no breaks. The Pistons will need every blue crab they can get.
NO.1 VS. NO. 8
DETROIT PISTONS
No. 1 seed, 60-22, No. 3 in Net Rating, No. 10 offense and No. 2 defense, No. 17 pace.
C: Jalen Duren – two games with five turnovers against Orlando in the regular season, one contest with four, one with one. Didn't have nearly the same trouble with any other team. Averages 19 and 10, clears so others can drive but still keeps touch for the lane, plays only 28 minutes a contest but nails 4.6 free throws a game on average.
PF: Tobias Harris – didn't play particularly well against Orlando in previous years at previous stops but kicked a little tail (21 a game on 56 percent from the floor, three turnovers in 91 minutes) against his former team in three contests in 2025-26. Still averages 13 points and hits 37 percent of his threes.
F: Ausur Thompson – best steal rate in the NBA, blocks a shot every game for the league's second-best defense.
F/G: Duncan Robinson – hit 4-6 from deep in one game against Orlando this season but struggled to connect in two other contests. Did not break out in his four bids against Orlando as a Miami member in 2024-25. Hit 41 percent from three-point range, is the same age as Nerlens Noel, Pascal Siakam, Marcus Smart.
PG: Cade Cunningham – dominant in three separate regular season appearances against the Magic, 16-36 from the floor in three outings since return from collapsed lung, 31 dimes in 76 minutes, 2-11 deep, one free throw attempt.
Between Ausur and Ron Holland the Pistons get two dunks and 3.2 steals out of a combined 46 small forward minutes. They combined for 17 points per game and missed nine contests (all Thompson) in 2025-26. Ron Holland rules.
