Detroit Pistons Head Coach Goes Off…And He’s RIGHT
There’s a certain attitude that defines great Detroit Pistons teams. It’s a toughness, a resilience, a refusal to back down—something deeper than talent alone. It’s an identity, a calling card, a way of playing basketball that’s as gritty and determined as the city itself.
I like to call it City Ball.
Detroit Pistons are back…deal with it
This isn’t the modern NBA style of basketball where teams float around the perimeter, passing out to the wing for a wide-open three. No, this Pistons team gets in your face, plays physical, and earns every inch of the court. It’s old-school, it’s hard-nosed, and if you step into Little Caesars Arena expecting an easy night, you’re in for a fight.
When the Pistons have been great, there’s been a common thread—they don’t take crap from anyone. The Bad Boys Pistons were the most underrated back-to-back champions in NBA history. They didn’t just win games; they beat teams into submission. They were unapologetic about it, too. And then came the 2004 ‘Goin’ to Work’ Pistons, a team that had no business dethroning the Lakers with Kobe and Shaq, yet dominated them in five games. Why? Because they fought for every possession, played together, and refused to be intimidated.
This year, we’re seeing that edge return.
Enough Is Enough – JB Bickerstaff goes off
The 2024-25 Pistons aren’t a team that will roll over when things don’t go their way. They’re tough, aggressive, and willing to take the fight to anyone in their path. And as we saw Saturday night against the Thunder, they’re tired of being disrespected.
Detroit head coach J.B. Bickerstaff had enough. He let the officials and the entire league know it.
“I’m disgusted by the way that game was officiated,” Bickerstaff said after the Pistons’ loss to Oklahoma City. “The level of disrespect was above and beyond.”
He wasn’t wrong. The Pistons have been dealing with one-sided officiating all season, and Saturday was no different.
- The Thunder shot 22 free throws. The Pistons? Just 13.
- Detroit was hit with five technical fouls. The Thunder? Zero.
- Cade Cunningham was ejected for arguing calls, while Oklahoma City’s Shai Gilgeous-Alexander got to the line 10 times compared to Cade’s one trip.
This isn’t just about one game—it’s about the way Detroit has been treated all season. Bickerstaff made sure everyone knew it.
“[The Thunder] have a guy fall down, trip on his own teammate’s foot, they review us for a hostile act. [The Thunder] throw an elbow to our chest, neck area, I ask [the officials] to at least take a look at it… No one would take a look at it. The disrespect has gone far enough.”
This Pistons team is young, but they’re growing fast. And as they continue to improve, they expect to be respected like every other team in the league.
“We’re growing young players,” Bickerstaff said. “Our young players are competing their tail off. The least that they could do is get the same level of respect that everybody else in this league gets, and get refereed the same way that everybody else in this league gets reffed. Enough is enough of it.”
This is what City Ball is all about. It’s about demanding respect, not just with words, but with actions. It’s about playing through the whistles, making teams feel you for 48 minutes, and not backing down no matter what. The Pistons aren’t here to play soft, three-point-heavy basketball. They’re here to bring Detroit back to the league’s consciousness.
They’re here to fight. And just like the amazing renaissance going on in Detroit, the Pistons are growing and becoming something more than what people think they are. Sound familiar? (“Detroit’s a city of ruins, no good restaurants, art and culture doesn’t exist”). The Pistons are a reflection of this city. Strong, tough, passionate and don’t give two f*cks about league playng favorites.
And if the NBA isn’t ready for that?
Well, they better get ready.
