Detroit Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff highlighted his team’s fast start in Friday’s 131-124 road win over the Golden State Warriors. “I thought the tempo we played at, the ability to take advantage of what was there… they did a great job of sharing the ball, playing at tempo, executing the game plan,” he said.
Bickerstaff also praised the squad’s resilience following Thursday’s loss in Phoenix. “That’s who these guys have been. We don’t look too far ahead and we don’t hold on to things behind us. That allows you to maintain emotional stability and play at your best,” he explained.
The coach singled out Cade Cunningham’s ability to read defenses under heavy pressure. “He’s a student of the game… he can take a snapshot quickly, find where his outlets are, and make decisions where he can be aggressive,” Bickerstaff said. He added that Cunningham’s size and strength give him an edge over other guards.
Bickerstaff also commented on Duncan Robinson’s role in the opening quarter. “Anytime Duncan gets hot, we want him to be extremely aggressive. It gives us an added spark and changes how defenses have to guard us,” he said.
Daniss Jenkins’ contributions were highlighted as well. “He’s earned a spot on this roster. Him being out there allows us to have a ball handler and put Cade in different spots. His ability to defend multiple positions and make shots adds to our versatility,” Bickerstaff said.
The coach addressed his team’s defensive plan on Stephen Curry. “He’s one of the greatest offensive weapons this league has ever seen. We just hoped to slow him down and make it difficult. With size, length, and athleticism, we had our guys hound him physically and support each other to eliminate cheap buckets,” he explained.
Bickerstaff emphasized the Pistons’ execution in both offense and defense. “They took advantage of what was there, shared the ball, and played at tempo. That’s why we were able to start strong and maintain our performance,” he said.
Detroit was led by Cunningham’s 29 points and 11 assists, while Jalen Duren added 21 points and 13 rebounds. Duncan Robinson contributed 15 points, and the Pistons’ first-quarter shooting of 76% set the tone. For Golden State, Stephen Curry scored 23 points before exiting with knee soreness, and Draymond Green posted 15 points, seven rebounds, seven assists, and his 10th technical foul of the season.
The Pistons improve to 35-12 and host Brooklyn on Sunday, while the Warriors fall to 27-23 and will host Philadelphia on Tuesday.
