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The Detroit Pistons' dream season comes down to this.
After a heartbreaking overtime loss in Game 5 on Wednesday, the Pistons face the Cleveland Cavaliers on Friday night, trailing this Eastern Conference semifinal series 3-2.
The Pistons were the East's No.1 seed for practically the entire season, but Detroit's mettle -- not to mention its roster construction -- has been severely tested in the playoffs. After falling behind 3-1 to the Orlando Magic in the first round, the Pistons ripped off a five-game winning streak to eliminate the Magic and go up 2-0 on the Cavaliers.
MORE: Duncan Robinson, Caris LeVert headline Pistons injury report for Game 6 vs. Cavaliers
But the Cavs have responded with three straight wins, and Cleveland -- 6-0 on its home floor this postseason -- can clinch its first Eastern Conference Finals appearance in eight years with one more victory at Rocket Arena on Friday.
The Cavaliers have presented the Pistons with a problem that Cade Cunningham and company haven't demonstrated that they can solve. By scheming center Jalen Duren out of the game, Cleveland has taken away Cunningham's top weapon: his pick-and-roll combination with his All-Star teammate.
In 247 minutes together this postseason, lineups with Duren and Ausar Thompson -- widely regarded as Detroit's best players after Cunningham -- have a minus-0.4 net rating and an uncharacteristic 114.6 defensive rating.
Lineups with Duren and without Thompson have an even-worse 118.5 defensive rating, though a more efficient offensive rating at 120.3. With Thompson on the floor and Duren on the bench, the Pistons' defensive rating drops to an elite 99.5 points per 100 possessions and a gaudy plus-11.8 net rating.
Oh boy. pic.twitter.com/BNPG71Pqvk
— Hardwood Paroxysm (@HPbasketball) May 15, 2026It's put the Pistons in a quandary from which they might not be able to escape.
Detroit can't get stops to fuel its lethal transition game when Duren is on the floor. When Thompson is out there without Duren, the Pistons have struggled to score enough points against a team with two elite offensive weapons in James Harden and Donovan Mitchell.
Cleveland has taken away the pick-and-roll, which has negated Duren almost entirely and forced Cunningham to beat the Cavaliers himself. Over a long series, that is bound to catch up with Detroit, whose season might come to an end on Friday.
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