If there is ever a good time to face the Cleveland Cavaliers, it is right now with them in the middle of a 3-game losing streak. However, if you believe that good teams can be motivated by bad stretches of basketball, this might be the worst possible time to face a team like the Cavaliers.
The Pistons are coming off a heart-breaking loss to the Orlando Magic on Saturday where they had control of the game in the 1st half, but a 4th quarter barrage by the Magic gave them the huge win for playoff seeding purposes.
The thing about the Pistons this season is that they don’t get blown out a ton, and even when they have been they have been able to go on a bit of a run late to keep the game respectable. Hopefully they are able to continue that trend against the Cavaliers, and who knows, maybe they are in the middle of a cursed stretch and the Pistons can get a huge win on the road.
Game Vitals
Where: Rocket Mortgage Field House in Cleveland, OH
When: Monday, January 27 at 7 pm EST
Watch: NBA TV or Fan Duel Sports Network Detroit
Odds: Cavaliers (-10.5)
Analysis
The Cavaliers were without Evan Mobley for two of their last three losses, which played a huge role in why they lost those games. Combine that with the fact that two of those games were against the Houston Rockets, who are no slouch, and that tells you why they have a 3-game losing streak.
Those are all still winnable games for a team as good as the Cavs, but they probably are not the dead team walking like their losing streak would have you believe.
The Cavs are obviously still a very talented team without Evan Mobley, but you could argue he is the most important player for the Cavs even if the box score numbers don’t scream at you and he won’t be as popular in All Star voting as Donovan Mitchell or Darius Garland.
Mobley is one of the best defenders in the NBA and his improved shooting and ability to create offense has been a huge reason for the Cavs rise to the top of the East. Having guys like Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland to get you a basket whenever you need one and to create offense for others is huge, but you are not winning a ton of playoff games with an undersized backcourt defensively without two really good defensive anchors, which the Cavs have in Mobley and Jarrett Allen.
Combine that with a deep bench with solid defenders and shooters and you have a recipe for a very good team. The biggest reason for the Cavs’ rise has been a top-tier offense led by new coach, Kenny Atkinson. JB Bickerstaff got the Cavs to the playoffs consistently on the strength of their defense, but Atkinson has the Cavs playing at a higher level offensively than they could ever dream of under Bickerstaff.
The Pistons are clearly benefitting from the decision of the Cavs to fire Bickerstaff, but you can’t argue that the Cavs are also not benefitting from it.
The Pistons hope to be a team like the Cavaliers one day, but right now they just have an All Star level point guard in Cade Cunningham who has to take on a lot offensively. It leads to some bad turnovers or bad shooting nights like the 12-of-31 effort on Saturday night, but the Pistons would not be where they are without Cunningham. He just needs a little more help from somebody.
That help might have to come from elsewhere, as the Pistons might be without one of Cunningham’s safety valves in Tobias Harris, who is questionable with headaches after a concussion he suffered against the Orlando Magic on Saturday. The Pistons got beat up in that hard-fought game with Ausar Thompson also getting hit in the head and Isaiah Stewart getting a bloody nose.
That is one good thing for the Pistons is that the Cavs are a good defensive team like the Magic, but they won’t play with the same level of physicality that the Magic do.
Donovan Mitchell and Darius Garland have been better defensively this season, but they will have a tough time slowing down Cade Cunningham if he gets it going offensively. Unfortunately for the Pistons, if Tobias Harris is out, the player replacing him will not be the offensive threat he is so it will give the Cavs even more incentive to double Cade every time he touches the ball.
This could be another high-scoring, high-turnover night for Cunningham and it could lead to a long night unless somebody else steps up offensively. This would be a great night for a Malik Beasley 3-point explosion.
Lineups
Cleveland Cavaliers (36-9): Darius Garland, Donovan Mitchell, Max Strus, Evan Mobley, Jarrett Allen
Detroit Pistons (23-22): Cade Cunningham, Tim Hardaway Jr, Ausar Thompson, Tobias Harris, Jalen Duren
Question of the Day
Do you want the Pistons to make a big move at the deadline or play it safe and ride it out with what they have?