Pistons Reeling After Wizards Loss, But Bickerstaff Stays Focused on Growth and Chemistry
DETROIT - After a disappointing 126-117 home loss to the Washington Wizards, Pistons head coach J.B. Bickerstaff didn’t sugarcoat it: this one stung. But he also made it clear - this game won’t define who the Pistons are becoming.
“You always try to learn, but you don’t hold on to it,” Bickerstaff said postgame. “We are a work in progress.”
And that’s the reality for a young Pistons squad still trying to find its footing in a long NBA season. The loss came just days after an emotional battle with the Denver Nuggets, and with the trade deadline looming and a marquee matchup against the Knicks on the horizon, Detroit looked like a team caught in the middle of too many distractions.
Thursday night’s game saw the Pistons fall behind by as much as 22 in the first half, struggling to match the Wizards’ energy and hot shooting. Bickerstaff chalked it up to a perfect storm of emotional and mental fatigue.
“That moment got the best of us with all those things kind of compiling,” he said. “But it’s not who we are consistently.
We’ve proven that. We just had a rough night, and we’ll move on and get back to being who we are.”
Trade Deadline: Chemistry Over Chaos
With the trade deadline front and center around the league, Bickerstaff took time to speak on the importance of team chemistry - and why the Pistons are leaning into it rather than shaking things up.
“There’s games that we can go back and talk about that we simply won because of our chemistry,” he said. “Because we were more connected than our opponent.”
That’s not just coach speak - it’s a foundational belief in how this team is being built. Bickerstaff explained the philosophy behind the Pistons’ approach: talent is great, but without chemistry, it doesn’t always translate to wins.
“If you have more talent, less chemistry, you’re going to underachieve,” he said. “If you have less talent, more chemistry, it gives you an opportunity to overachieve.”
In his eyes, Detroit has struck a rare balance.
“We’ve got the perfect world of both - we have the talent level and the chemistry. So why would you mess with it? Give it an opportunity.”
That mindset has been consistent from the top down. Bickerstaff pointed to the offseason as a moment when the organization could’ve gone big in the market - but chose to stay the course instead.
“This summer, very easily, we could have jumped the gun and made some huge splash,” he said. “But our organization was committed to our guys and gave them the opportunity to grow and help take us to that next step.”
Offense: Balancing the Load Beyond Cade
With Cade Cunningham carrying a heavy load as the team’s offensive engine, Bickerstaff acknowledged the need to diversify the scoring - but he’s not looking at it as pressure. It’s just part of the job.
“It’s our job to get the most out of what’s in front of us,” he said. “Not more creative - just creative offensively to make sure that everything doesn’t fall on Cade’s shoulders.”
That means finding secondary scoring options and leaning into the unique strengths of the roster, rather than copying what works for other teams.
“Sometimes we get stuck trying to do what we see work other places,” Bickerstaff said. “But instead of that, you look at what you have and play to the strengths of your roster.”
He described the process as a “chess match” - a blend of strategy, imagination, and constant adjustment to put players in the best position to succeed.
“If Golden State plays a certain way, or Oklahoma City, or Denver - we can’t just be that,” he said. “We don’t have that roster.
So how do you squeeze the most out of your roster? That’s how we approach it every single day.”
Injury Update: Jalen Duren
As for Jalen Duren, who was sidelined with a knee injury, Bickerstaff said the big man was close to suiting up.
“He’s going to try to give it a go,” Bickerstaff said. “He’s going to go through his pregame stuff, see how he feels, and if he feels good enough, he’ll go.”
Duren ultimately did not play, but his potential return will be something to watch as the Pistons look to rebound from a frustrating loss and refocus on the path ahead.
The Pistons may have stumbled Thursday night, but in Bickerstaff’s eyes, the foundation remains strong - a young team growing through the grind, learning from the lows, and staying connected through it all.