Pistons Coach Unfazed by Celtics' Surge Amid Losing Streak

Detroit maintains focus on internal improvement despite Boston's resurgence with Jayson Tatum's return.

Published on Mar. 9, 2026

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The Detroit Pistons are still the Eastern Conference's top team, but their lead over the surging Boston Celtics has shrunk to just 2.5 games after four straight losses. Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff downplayed the threat from Boston, saying the team is focused on its own improvement rather than scoreboard watching. Despite the Pistons' recent struggles, their young stars like Cade Cunningham have continued to make strides, and the team remains confident in its ability to weather the storm.

Why it matters

The Pistons' lead atop the Eastern Conference has tightened as the Celtics have surged with the return of All-NBA forward Jayson Tatum from injury. This sets up a potential showdown between the conference's top teams in the final stretch of the regular season, with the Pistons looking to maintain their position and the Celtics aiming to overtake them.

The details

The Pistons' 121-110 loss to the Miami Heat on Sunday marked their fourth straight defeat, shrinking their lead over the Celtics. With Tatum back in the lineup, the Celtics have won their last two games by double figures. Despite the Pistons' recent struggles, their young stars like Cade Cunningham have continued to excel, and the team is focused on internal improvement rather than worrying about the Celtics.

  • The Pistons' four-game losing streak began on March 5, 2026.
  • Jayson Tatum returned to the Celtics' lineup on March 3, 2026.

The players

J.B. Bickerstaff

The head coach of the Detroit Pistons, who has emphasized his team's focus on internal improvement rather than worrying about the Celtics' surge.

Cade Cunningham

The Pistons' star point guard, who is a two-time All-Star and firmly in the league MVP discussion, averaging 25.2 points, 9.8 assists, and 5.8 rebounds per game.

Jayson Tatum

The All-NBA forward for the Boston Celtics, who returned from an ACL injury suffered in the playoffs last season and has immediately boosted the Celtics' postseason ceiling.

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What they’re saying

“Boston, obviously, is a good team, but we're not concerned about Boston. Our biggest concern is making sure that we're doing what we need to do to go out and be as good as we possibly can.”

— J.B. Bickerstaff, Head Coach, Detroit Pistons (heavy.com)

“It's the NBA, right? The season is long. Everybody goes through difficult times or a little bit of a rut. We just found ours right now. And again, we've got plenty of time left to do what we've got to do.”

— J.B. Bickerstaff, Head Coach, Detroit Pistons (heavy.com)

What’s next

The Pistons will look to end their four-game losing streak when they face the Brooklyn Nets on Tuesday, March 12, 2026.

The takeaway

Despite the Pistons' recent struggles, their focus on internal improvement and the continued development of their young stars like Cade Cunningham suggests they are well-equipped to weather the storm and maintain their position atop the Eastern Conference standings, even as the Celtics surge with Jayson Tatum's return.