All Pistons

NBA Fans React to Pistons Coach’s Revenge Game vs. Cavaliers

JB Bickerstaff's Detroit Pistons defeated the Cleveland Cavaliers on Wednesday.
Justin Grasso|
Oct 16, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons head coach J.B Bickerstaff yells instructions to his players during their preseason game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second quarter at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images
Oct 16, 2024; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons head coach J.B Bickerstaff yells instructions to his players during their preseason game against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second quarter at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images | Lon Horwedel-Imagn Images

In this story:

Detroit PistonsCleveland Cavaliers

At the start of the 2024 offseason, the Cleveland Cavaliers moved on from the head coach, JB Bickerstaff. His departure came after a second-round exit in the playoffs.

Bickerstaff hit the open market and entertained the Detroit Pistons, who were coming off of a 14-68 season. They might be on a much different timeline, but the Pistons are looking to turn the state of the franchise around. They hope Bickerstaff is the right guy to lead the charge.

Wednesday night’s preseason battle between the Cavs and the Pistons offered Bickerstaff his first opportunity to coach against his former team. It’s safe to say the Pistons went out of the preseason with a bang.

Bickerstaff’s Revenge

@EliBashiNBA: JB Bickerstaff beating the Cleveland starters with the Pistons second and third units 💀 He took being fired personally

@LJayy7: Preseason or pickup game on asphalt, JB Bickerstaff wants a win in this game

@CavsAgenda: JB Bickerstaff made sure to get this win tonight you got it big bro😂💯

@rockoutduke: Pistons fans gon love JB Bickerstaff

Bickerstaff didn’t have any plans to give Pistons starters a night off before the regular season begins. Being that it’s a new team playing in a new system, the head coach believed it would be beneficial to trot out everybody from Cade Cunningham to the roster hopefuls.

The Pistons took down the Cavaliers with a 108-92 victory. Bickerstaff gave his starters just eight minutes to get some work in before getting pulled for the rest of the night.

Cade Cunningham shot 2-3 from the field, scoring six points. He also had four assists and a steal on the defensive end of the floor.

Although Jaden Ivey’s been hot lately, he had a quiet outing at home on Wednesday. After putting up just one shot from the field, Ivey totaled two points. He tacked on two assists but turned it over twice, too.

On a bright note, the Pistons saw the best game from their veteran Simone Fontecchio off the bench.

Throughout the preseason, Fontecchio averaged eight points on 38 percent shooting from the field. On Wednesday, the forward hit his stride by putting up 18 points. He knocked down nearly half of his 11 three-pointers.

The Pistons closed out the preseason with a winning record. At 3-2, the record resets ahead of next week. The Pistons will face the Indiana Pacers for the regular season opener on Wednesday.

Published
Justin Grasso
JUSTIN GRASSO

Justin Grasso was a credentialed writer and publisher covering the Philadelphia 76ers for Sports Illustrated’s 76ers On SI Network. Grasso got his start in sports media in 2016 with FantasyPros, working the news desk, providing game-by-game player analysis and updates on the Portland Trail Blazers and the Golden State Warriors. By 2017, he joined FanSided’s Philadelphia Eagles site as a staff writer. After spending one season covering the Eagles as a staff writer, Grasso was promoted to become the site’s Co-Editor. For the next two NFL seasons, he covered the Eagles closely before broadening his NFL coverage. For a brief stint, Grasso covered the NFL on a national basis after joining Heavy.com as an NFL news desk writer. In 2019, Grasso joined the 76ers' beat on a part-time basis, stepping into a role with South Jersey’s 97.3 ESPN. Ahead of the 2019-2020 NBA season, he concluded a three-year stint covering the Eagles and joined the Sixers beat full-time. Grasso has covered the 76ers exclusively since then for Sports Illustrated. He is a member of the Pro Basketball Writers Association. Twitter: @JGrasso_ Instagram: @JGrassoMedia

Share on XFollow JGrasso_
Home/News