Isaiah Livers, a rookie forward from Michigan, missed most of his first NBA season due to right foot surgery he underwent after his senior season. The Pistons still selected him in the second round, entrenched in their rebuild and winning the 2021 lottery to land star prospect Cade Cunningham. While Livers' new teammates lost regularly -- including eight straight in February -- he watched them end that streak in Boston against a Celtics team riding their own nine-game winning streak and solidifying their historic defense for a postseason run.
“Obviously, (they're a) really good defensive team," Cunningham told Boston Sports Journal this week. "They have a bunch of guys that want to defend, and offensively, they share the ball. Jayson Tatum and Jaylen Brown, two great offensive players as well, so you have to bring it against a team like that. You have to. Last year, I just wanted to be aggressive and impose myself on the game.”
Isaiah Stewart and Cunningham capped the night by blocking Jaylen Brown simultaneously at the rim to secure a one-point win in the final seconds, one of only three Celtics losses over their 25-game tear toward the two seed. Livers joined Detroit for their next trip to Boston one month later, his sixth NBA game. The environment stuck with him, fans leaping out of their seats for practically every basket and practically shaking the building during a run into halftime. Detroit fought within one possession until the Celtics ran away with a win in the fourth quarter. The notion the Pistons would return to Boston that season became impossible three days later when the Pistons lost their 50th game and got eliminated from the playoffs. But they found a way.
Cunningham imagined a small step to speed up the Pistons' rebuild as they prepared to pick No. 5 overall. Only four teams remained in the playoffs. The Warriors and Mavericks battled in the west, but Cunningham knew Detroit would need to go through the Celtics and Heat to eventually contend in the east. He started a group chat and found some teammates willing to join him. They bought tickets, and when the east finalists emerged from the locker rooms for Game 4 at TD Garden in May, Cunningham, Stewart, Livers, Killian Hayes and Pistons head coach Dwane Casey sat in the second row as spectators.
Cade Cunningham watched as Jimmy Butler attempted a layup over Al Horford during Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals. (Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)
"We all jumped in the chat and we all thought about, 'Hey, while we're in town, let's go see a playoff atmosphere," Livers told BSJ. "We hit coach Casey up too and he was on board too, he was like 'let's go do it, let's get some tickets, let's go feel the energy and see what it's like in the playoffs.' We were just in Detroit, our season was cut short, we didn't make the playoffs, so instead of just watching on TV, let's go feel the energy, let's be there ... I'd say the head honcho was Cade, he's already a natural leader. He just hit us all up, and then like I said, we hit coach up and (we) were like, 'hey, why not?' Let's just feel that energy so it gives us motivation going into next year."
The Celtics, trailing 2-1 in the series, sent Derrick White downhill for a pair of transition buckets before Al Horford launched an alley-oop to Robert Williams III to take a 10-1 lead. Tatum caught another from White to score seven straight points as Miami turned the ball over and piled up misses against Boston's stifling defense.
The Heat's nine giveaways, while not an overwhelming raw number, hurt Miami's ability to close the gap as the game progressed. White drew a pair of offensive fouls on Dwayne Dedmon and Jimmy Butler, Livers noticed, the latter allowing the Celtics to go ahead by 27 points. Miami only pulled within 18 points with two minutes remaining as Boston tied the series, eventually winning in seven games, in part due to Max Strus' reversed three-pointer in Game 7, which Livers also remembered watching from home.
"The lead changes, how you've got to keep your composure when a team makes a few shots," Stewart told BSJ, looking back at the game. "Especially a home team, when they make a few shots and the crowd goes crazy, you've got to keep your composure and be able to go back down the other end and do the same thing."
ESPN's cameras only briefly showed Casey explaining something to Cunningham as the spotlight shined on other celebrities and the east's best. The Pistons remained under the radar over the summer, taking on Nerlens Noel, Alec Burks and Kemba Walker's salaries from the Knicks, trading Jerami Grant, who signed with Detroit, in part, to play in a predominantly Black city for a Black head coach in Casey and GM in Troy Weaver. They maintained their cap space for next summer and drafted top guard prospect Jaden Ivey from Purdue and 18-year-old big man Jalen Duren from Memphis.
As the NBA shifts toward a perimeter and skill game that Ivey and Cunningham will lead them into, the Pistons also reflect their past, leaning into physical big men like Stewart. Former No. 2 overall pick Marvin Bagley III arrived in exchange for Josh Jackson and Trey Lyles last year, a steal the Pistons solidified by signing him long-term. They chase offensive rebounds, they bang in the post and Saddiq Bey started his career 14-for-18 from three against the Celtics, who had trouble during the past two seasons breezing past these ascending Pistons, who have stolen three wins in eight meetings since 2020.
Cunningham didn't choose the Boston game in the series by accident. The Pistons could've attended any series that spring for postseason lessons. Detroit also wants to restore the spirit of a city that once loved its basketball team during championship runs in the 1980s and 2000s. They want to attract a crowd as rowdy as Boston's to their arena in downtown Detroit, rather than suburban Auburn Hills, which opened for the 2017-18 season.
Competing with the Celtics on the floor looks like a goal for the distant future after a 3-10 start, but the team saw a bump from 20th last year to 12th in home attendance through six games. They'll host Boston on Saturday and know they'll wake up motivated, not sticking to the line about every game being important as most teams do.
They're young and envious, Cunningham just shot a frustrating 1-for-11 in Wednesday's loss in Boston and the Pistons briefly saw a way to exploit a second unit by rolling Duren downhill after setting screens for Ivey. They tried flexing their muscle inside against the smaller Celtics, but Boston had already dealt with Miami trying to do the same on the biggest stage.
“I think the main thing was the physicality of the game," Cunningham said, remembering Game 4. "It’s way more physical (in) playoff basketball than the regular season. So you have to be able to withstand that and match the other team’s physicality, and also just the environment. The whole TD Garden was rocking. I want to bring that same energy to Detroit and bring back basketball there.”
Here's what else happened in the NBA this week...
Atlanta (8-4): Knocked off the previously undefeated Bucks in a 117-98 runaway win highlighted by Onyeka Okongwu's slam over Giannis Antetokounmpo. The young big man matched Clint Capela's minutes and production while Dejounte Murray took on a larger role in Trae Young's absence, scoring 25 points with eight assists and 11 rebounds in fewer than 30 minutes of work. Young bounced back with 26 points and seven assists in a win over the 76ers, while Capela and Okongwu both scored double-doubles while battling Joel Embiid. The Hawks are good again, even if they still haven't reached their final identity. They host the Celtics on Wednesday.
Boston (9-3): Lost Malcolm Brogdon (hamstring tightness) to his first injury since joining the Celtics midway through a win over the Pistons, and he's now day-to-day after missing Friday's blowout win over the Nuggets. The Celtics blasted Detroit and Denver, assuming No. 1 offensive status in the league by 3.4 points per 100 possessions over No. 2 Utah. Jayson Tatum scored 39 points in an impressive road win over the Grizzlies before adding 30 each of the next two games to extend Boston's win streak to five. Jaylen Brown is finding his footing after adjusting to an off-ball role in Joe Mazzulla's system, while Marcus Smart served 38 assists over the last four games. They're overwhelming even as the defense still lags relative to the league (23rd on the win streak), but Robert Williams III sounds ready to join the party sooner rather than later.
“Jayson, Jaylen and Marcus, it starts with those three guys," Horford said after hitting six threes on Friday. "We have to have good spacing around them."
Brooklyn (5-7): Declined to hire suspended Celtics head coach Ime Udoka in Kyrie Irving's absence, instead naming interim head coach Jacque Vaughn to the position full-time. Shams Charania cited the team's waning hopes in the east, Irving's suspension, an investigation into Udoka's conduct and outcry against the planned hire. Vaughn quipped about not being the team's, or his wife's, first choice, but has the Nets playing the best defense in the league on their way to wins in four of their last seven games. The NBPA is optimistic it'll reach a resolution on Irving's status soon as his five-game suspension ends this weekend. Jaylen Brown and the union challenged the six guidelines the Nets set for his return as unprecedented, while Joe Tsai and NBA commissioner Adam Silver both met with the guard, both coming to the conclusion that Irving is not antisemitic.
Charlotte (3-10): They're bad, losers of seven straight where they ranked last in offense by seven full points per 100 possessions (98.9 offensive rating). Terry Rozier, P.J. Washington and Kelly Oubre carry the scoring load on the wing next to Dennis Smith Jr., starting for LaMelo Ball (ankle), who still hasn't played this season. Cody Martin will miss six weeks following knee surgery and Ball remains without a timetable for his return. Miles Bridges teased a future return to the team after pleading no contest to domestic violence charges, but he'll inevitably face a significant suspension under the collective bargaining agreement if that day comes.
Chicago (6-7): They're intriguing, ranked fifth in defense despite a lagging offense and both DeMar DeRozan (24.5 PPG on 50.7% FG) and Nikola Vucevic (16.5 PPG, 11.9 RPG, 39.7% 3PT) look rejuvenated after losing in five games to the Bucks in the playoffs. Goran Dragic added an offensive boost to the bench and Alex Caruso remains as disruptive as any guard in the NBA. Ayo Dosunmu is taking steps in a starting role and they've competed even with injuries mounting. Andre Drummond (shoulder) returned from a six-game absence on Thursday while Coby White (thigh) has missed the same amount of time.
Cleveland (8-3): Allowed 60 points to Steph Curry and Andrew Wiggins as the Cavaliers' wing depth continues to plague the team in spots early this season. Isaac Okoro, Cedi Osman and Caris LeVert combined to shoot 5-for-20, scoring 15 points while the big men and guards continued their early dominance. The Kings' wings, including a struggling Harrison Barnes, beat up on the Cavs' too, despite LeVert scoring 20 points in that loss. The Clippers poured 119 points on their defense, which still holds up at No. 2 in the league. It's a wakeup call for where they may end up needing to alter the roster in an eastern conference loaded with wings.
Dallas (6-5): Scrapped out three straight one-possession wins before falling to the Wizards and Magic this week. Kevin Durant and Kyle Kuzma both commented on the limitations of the team's Luka Doncic-led offense, with the guard ending his nine-game 30 points streak with the losses, finishing second all-time behind Wilt Chamberlain, who did so in 23 straight. Doncic fell into a 17-for-50 (34%) shooting slump over the last two games, and Jason Kidd predicted he'll need some kind of rest or support going forward given his 39.1% usage rate.
“When everyone’s going to come at you every night on the defensive end, and then we’re asking you to do everything offensively,” Kidd said, “it’s going to show within 25 games. … Everyone’s going to say he’s 23 years old, but he’s human.”
Denver (8-4): Won four straight games before Friday's setback in Boston, with head coach Michael Malone seeing the best spurts yet from Jamal Murray as he finished his first 10 games back from ACL surgery. Murray averaged 18.5 PPG, 4.8 RPG and 5.3 APG on 47.5% shooting during the Nuggets' win streak, while Kentavious Caldwell-Pope remains the hottest shooter in the NBA, hitting 60.9% of his shots from deep over his last five games. The bench is concerning, with De'Andre Jordan allowing a fifth-chance opportunity to Payton Pritchard and Celtics in embarrassing fashion. They also rank No. 24 in defense.
DeAndre Jordan just couldn't secure a rebound 😅 pic.twitter.com/LXzzGHGaYN
— Bleacher Report (@BleacherReport) November 12, 2022
Detroit (3-10): Alec Burks (foot) returned for his first action of the season, a loss to his former Knicks teammates. Marvin Bagley III (MCL sprain) nears a return too for a Pistons team badly needing reliable depth. Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren impressed in a loss against the Celtics on Wednesday, but couldn't sustain against Malcolm Brogdon and Boston's high-powered second unit. Cade Cunningham struggled, shooting 1-for-11 before missing Friday's loss with shin soreness. The Pistons rank 27th in offense and 30th in defense. They host the Celtics for a rematch on Saturday.
Golden State (5-7): Back on their feet with close wins over the Kings and Cavs led by Steph Curry after their winless east coast swing. Curry scored 87 points with 13 assists in the victories, showing the Warriors' reliance on him and Andrew Wiggins as the supporting cast struggles. Steve Kerr will not bench a struggling Klay Thompson, he said, while two-way veterans Ty Jerome and Anthony Lamb appear poised to displace Moses Moody, Jonathan Kuminga and James Wiseman, who have all struggled to defend on the team that ranked No. 2 on that end last season. It's a mess right now.
Houston (2-10): Received mixed results from their youth as Jalen Green, Kevin Porter Jr., KJ Martin and Alperen Sengun shined while Jabari Smith Jr., TyTy Washington, who's headed for the G-League, and Josh Christopher struggled to get involved. Paolo Banchero praised Smith after he struggled in the Rockets' win over the Magic this week. Smith shot 30.8% through his first 11 NBA games, but Banchero believes he eventually will hit.
"He is a ridiculous shooter, shot-maker. You can’t really teach the stuff he is able to do when it comes to making shots," Banchero said.
Indiana (5-6): Beat the Heat and Pelicans before pushing the Nuggets to the brink on Wednesday to show how much talent is on this rebuilding roster. They're No. 8 in offense and Myles Turner blocked nine shots to begin this month. Tyrese Haliburton averaged 21.0 PPG and 11.3 APG on 55.6% shooting this week while rookie Bennedict Mathurin continued his offense tear to begin the season. The star back court spoke to The Ringer about their bright future.
"Everybody wants the ball in their hands all the time," Haliburton said of the NBA. "So, if you got guys that are comfortable playing off the ball, it really works well. I’ve obviously transitioned to a guy who’s on the ball more than off the ball. But it’s still easy when Ben’s got it going, or when anyone on our team’s got it going and to be kind of spaced, be ready to shoot."
Clippers (7-5): Kawhi Leonard (knee) will miss his 10th consecutive game on Saturday against Brooklyn due to stiffness that emerged last month. He progressed to five-on-five work this week and looked good to head coach Ty Lue, but it marked his first time back on the floor since leaving the lineup and he still has some time left before a return. LA, like they did last year, started the season strong on defense (No. 3) to win games and Paul George is carrying extra offensive weight, averaging 25.4 PPG on 48.5% while Leonard has stunningly played only 42 minutes since returning from ACL surgery.
Lakers (2-10): One miracle win against the Pelicans away from an unthinkable 1-11 start, they're legitimately as bad as any team in the league despite a renewed defensive spirit and more athletic personnel. It hasn't mattered. They can't shoot well enough to keep up with opposing offenses and timely defensive lapses cost them late in games. Darvin Ham seemingly relayed an unwillingness on the front office's part to shake up the roster, to which LeBron James' camp seemingly sent a message of dissatisfaction. Russell Westbrook is playing well. It's hard to blame him this time around even if he isn't the other piece the team needs right now. Unsurprisingly, Anthony Davis' name emerged in trade rumors this week. That might be the only way out.
Memphis (9-4): Ja Morant is astonishing, floating through Grant Williams and rising to the rim to stuff Malcolm Brogdon in a close loss to the Celtics where Memphis stayed in it until the final seconds. Desmond Bane worked the Grizzlies back from down by nine points late with a scoring burst, as he's averaging 24.7 PPG on 45.1% three-point shooting into his third season next to Morant. Dillon Brooks remains an awkward fit, largely shooting Memphis out of that game as he continues to play a large part in the Grizzlies' offense despite Morant and Bane's ascent. They're a bad defensive team, with issues beyond Jaren Jackson Jr.'s absence. They have the salary and picks for a consolidation trade, but they'll remain patient while they're winning.
Miami (5-7): Injuries began mounting on a bad start with Tyler Herro (ankle) missing two straight games while Omer Yurtseven (ankle) could miss the entire season after showing promise last year. Things sounded and looked strange in Miami when the Celtics beat them in the second game of the season, Bam Adebayo lashing out at officials, Kyle Lowry looking like a shell of his former self while Max Strus strangely got banished to the bench in favor of Herro, the reigning sixth man of the year. Miami ranks 22nd in offense, abysmal in the half court, and lack the picks and personnel to pull off a trade to shake things up. Erik Spoelstra sees the team making progress after three wins in their past five games, but this could become a play-in team.
Milwaukee (10-2): Not resting on an unrivaled start. They're reportedly gauging interest on guard Grayson Allen, who could be at risk of losing his role to Jevon Carter, who scored 57 points over the past two games in spot starts. Giannis Antetokounmpo (knee) and Allen (illness) sat in a loss to the Spurs on Friday, with the Bucks reportedly searching for what they lost two seasons ago as an emerging candidate for Suns forward Jae Crowder. Eric Nehm discussed that fit, Milwaukee's shift toward taking away opposing three-pointers on their way to early No. 1 status on defense and Brook Lopez' big start in a fun Lowe Post. Antetokounmpo missed three of the past four games with knee soreness, with the Bucks winning two.
Minnesota (5-8): Losers of three straight and 6-of-7. This is an absolute disaster early on, and you have to start questioning everything from the mix, leadership, coaching and even the Rudy Gobert trade that many people did raise an eyebrow to when it happened over the summer. They're 21st in offense and haven't received the Gobert bump on defense, ranked No. 17 and they've been outscored by 4.2 points per 100 possessions in his minutes. Worse, in a moment emblematic of this team's evident dysfunction, D'Angelo Russell watched a defensive possession from the scorer's table when he should've been in the game as the Wolves defended the Suns 4-on-5. Russell was benched in a loss to the Grizzlies on Friday. Look out below.
This is an all-timer! Russell not realizing he's supposed to be on the court, Suns play a possession 5-on-4, make a 3-pointer. #Timberwolves pic.twitter.com/3hrT51FGKO
— Darren Wolfson (@DWolfsonKSTP) November 10, 2022
New Orleans (6-6): Inconsistent defensively, weighing down their solid offense and leading to an uneven start despite some good signs from Zion Williamson since his return and red-hot shooting starts from Brandon Ingram and Trey Murphy III. Williamson's defense is at the center of the team's personnel issues at that end, smaller guards and a lack of rim protection placing additional pressure on a star who didn't enter the league as a great defender to begin with. They host the Celtics on Friday.
“Collectively, we all have to make a decision that we’re going to guard, no matter who’s on the floor,” Pelicans coach Willie Green said. “We can mix up some of our coverages … (but) we didn’t guard the ball. They got into paint. They got to the basket. Those are the things that we need to do better.”
New York (6-6): They're perfectly average, but the defenses soften up through the end of the month and average is better than bad, which they were last year. Julius Randle's fit remains strange after carrying the Knicks with an All-NBA season two years ago, plagued by shooting woes and poor defensive rotations. Donovan Mitchell wouldn't have fixed everything and he's a perfect Cavalier, but it's hard to imagine the Knicks not going back in time and executing that trade given how they've started this season. As youth development lags, it's hard to believe contract decisions already loom on Cam Reddish, Immanuel Quickley and Obi Toppin over the next year. Kemba Walker, who started last year with the Knicks, looked back on his doomed homecoming with Woj
Oklahoma City (5-7): Scored 130 points in back-to-back games after sluggish offensive showings against the Bucks and Pistons. They're unpredictable and Shai Gilgeous-Alexander should provide a fun challenge for the Celtics on Monday as they've shifted to Grant Williams in the starting lineup to help contain opposing guards. Gilgeous-Alexander scored 20 points and helped seven other Thunder players reach double-figures in a shootout win over Toronto. He added 39 more in an overtime defeat against the Bucks without Giannis. They rank 26th in offense, but surprisingly boast the No. 7 defense.
Orlando (4-9): Beat the Mavericks and Suns without Paolo Banchero, who briefly cooled down from his historic 20-point game streak to begin his career with a pair of games in the teens. He heated up again for 85 points across his last three games before falling with an ankle sprain. Banchero joined LeBron James as the only teenagers in league history to score 33 points with 15 rebounds in a game. Wendell Carter is thriving, posting double-doubles in the last two wins and averaging 16.0 PPG and 9.5 RPG while Bol Bol, look away Celtics fans, shoots 67% and block shots in an expanded role.
Philadelphia (5-7): Great Joel Embiid performances weren't enough to uplift a team that doesn't do the little things in James Harden's absence. Embiid questioned Doc Rivers' decision to pull him with foul trouble while trailing by double-digits against the Hawks, and while they've improved to 13th in defense, this feels like a team whose coach isn't getting enough out of the talent on the roster.
Phoenix (8-4): The Suns re-engaged teams in Jae Crowder trade talks since Cam Johnson underwent surgery for a torn meniscus, Brian Windhorst reported. Torrey Craig, Damion Lee and Josh Okogie are the only wings left to fill out Johnson's role, not the most compelling cast. Mikal Bridges can carry extra weight at the position, but before long, Phoenix will need to make some kind of deal that brings in a viable replacement, or try to encourage Crowder to return. Jake Fischer reported that there is no current indication that's in the works days after Johnson's injury. Grayson Allen is an option, but the Suns will remain patient.
Portland (9-3): They're so much fun. Anfernee Simons filled Damian Lillard's shoes before he returned to dish a game-winning pass to Josh Hart, who downed the Heat with a corner three. Jerami Grant powered them past the Pelicans with 27 points, but a 17-point showing from rookie Shaedon Sharpe got spoiled by him breaking his finger. Sharpe is day-to-day and joined Justise Winslow (right ankle sprain), Keon Johnson (hip pointer) and Jusuf Nurkic (adductor soreness) among the injured, plus Gary Payton II (return to competition reconditioning) and Olivier Sarr (right wrist sprain), who have sat out longer term. The Blazers rank No. 6 in defense despite that lineup instability.
Sacramento (5-6): They've won 5-of-7, scoring an impressive upset over the Cavaliers at home before beating the Lakers on their home court behind 32 points and 12 assists from De'Aaron Fox. Harrison Barnes woke up from a horrible start to the season, Kevin Huerter found a niche off the Kings' bench as a shooter and slasher, while Domantas Sabonis averages 17.2 PPG, 10.4 RPG and 6.1 APG on 55.3% shooting. Defense will have to wait.
San Antonio (6-7): Started falling back to earth before beating the short-handed Bucks badly, 111-93. Keldon Johnson and Devin Vassell combined for 51 points in the win as the pair continues to shoot over 40% from three. Jeremy Sochan is a fun watch, sporting the Dennis Rodman hair and No. 10 as he attacks the rim and the boards. This mix of veterans and young players is poised for regression with the No. 29 offense and No. 24 defense.
Toronto (7-6): Precious Achiuwa (ankle) is out indefinitely, opening more opportunity for rookie Christian Koloko and veteran Chris Boucher inside on a Raptors team that's lost to the Mavericks, Bulls and Thunder through an influx of road games midway through November. Fred VanVleet left the loss to Oklahoma City with a non-COVID illness as the Raptors continue to lag at a .500 pace. Pascal Siakam can't do it all for this group in the half court.
Utah (10-3): No longer simply starting hot, the Jazz are the best team in the western conference through a solid chunk of the season. Lauri Markkanen shot 52.7% from the field to begin his career in Utah, while Kelly Olynyk's shooting and playmaking have been stunning to watch following an injury-riddled 2022 in Detroit. Jordan Clarkson, Mike Conley, Malik Beasley and Collin Sexton have all buried 38% of their threes, making this start easier, but rookie Walker Kessler is also providing rim protection to what's still a top-10 defense. Only the Celtics have scored more than Utah's 116 points per 100 possessions. Shoutout to Joe Mazzulla and Will Hardy, who wanted to bring Mazzulla to his new Jazz staff when he got hired.
Washington (6-6): Stabilized after a good win over the Mavericks, ending a stretch where the Wizards lost 5-of-7. Bradley Beal is slowly finding his scoring stride on a team without much consistent spacing. Kyle Kuzma scored 36 points against Dallas, but otherwise the offense just isn't there on the wing next to Beal. Deni Avdija, Anthony Gill and Corey Kispert combined for 21 points in the win and rookie Johnny Davis is in the G-League.