The Detroit Pistons are vastly improved over last season’s team, which compiled one of the 10 worst seasons in NBA history at 14-68.
However, the Pistons aren’t quite good enough to defeat the NBA’s best teams consistently, as demonstrated by their 113-107 loss to the Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday night.
Following the game, Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff was fuming. In his view, the Pistons didn’t just have to contend with the second-best team in the NBA on Saturday. They also had to battle the officials.
“What you saw tonight was disgusting,” Bickerstaff said. “It was a disgusting display of disrespect towards our guys and what we’re trying to do.”
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Bickerstaff’s voice shook as he ranted about the officiating, pounding the table before leaving his postgame press conference.
“I tried to have a conversation with an official, the official is arguing with [Thunder coach] Mark [Daigneault], I say his name one time and he screams at me and tells me that’s enough,” Bickerstaff said.
“We understand that we play a style of ball that’s physical, it’s on the edge. I coach my ass off in a passionate way, I’m into the game, our players are into the game. We understand that. But we deserve a level of respect because we’re competing our tails off and bringing something positive to this league.”
Beginning at the seven-minute mark of the third quarter, Detroit was whistled for five technical fouls. Ausar Thompson and Bickerstaff first picked up technicals. Then with 47 seconds remaining in the frame, Cade Cunningham was called for two technicals for arguing with the officials and ejected from the game. (Dennis Schröder also picked up a tech, sandwiched between Cunningham’s.)
After the flurry of technicals and Cunningham’s ejection, the Thunder expanded their lead to 91-75 by the end of the third. Despite their All-Star’s absence, the Pistons twice cut the margin to one point on 3-pointers by Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr.
But with under three minutes remaining, Shai Gilgeous-Alexander made two consecutive baskets to restore the Thunder’s…
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