The Detroit Pistons walked into Philadelphia on Saturday night without Cade Cunningham, without Isaiah Stewart, and without much respect from oddsmakers who still question whether this team is built for playoff success.
They left with the No. 1 seed in the Eastern Conference, dismantling the 76ers 116-93, and a clear message from head coach J.B. Bickerstaff about what comes next.
J.B. Bickerstaff Reminds the Detroit Pistons of Unfinished Business
Bickerstaff summed up the Pistons’ goals after the team secured the conference’s top seed: “We got more food to eat.”
It was a reminder to both his players and anyone outside the locker room waiting to crown them too soon. That grounded approach is a major reason why Bickerstaff was able to transform the Pistons from the league’s worst team into a legitimate contender.
“I mean, take a moment, reflect on where we’ve been, reflect on the work that we’ve put in to get here, but understanding that this isn’t the finish,” Bickerstaff told reporters. “So, to grow the way this group has grown together as quickly as it has, it is special. But we got more food to eat. So, we’ll take tonight, enjoy this. But tomorrow, we’ll get back to work.”
JB on clinching the No. 1 seed: “It’s special. But we’ve got more food to eat. So we’ll take this tonight, enjoy this, and tomorrow we’ll get back to work.” pic.twitter.com/rrhXeTZu2f
— Omari Sankofa II (@omarisankofa) April 5, 2026
Detroit has gone 8-2 since Cunningham suffered a collapsed lung on March 17. The Pistons superstar is averaging 24.5 points and 9.9 assists this season was supposed to be irreplaceable.
Detroit has instead continued to prove that they’re not a one-man operation. Seven players reached double figures against Philadelphia.
Daniss Jenkins posted 16 points and 14 assists with just one turnover. Tobias Harris led the way with 19 points. Jalen Duren added 16 points and battled through illness to be available.
MORE: Jalen Duren Sends Bold Message to Rest of Eastern Conference After Pistons’ 57th Win
Bickerstaff credited the team’s ball movement and collective buy-in for their sustained success.
“We wanted diversity in our offense,” he said. “We want everybody to feel like they’re a part of it, everybody to get a touch. You know, the more we move the ball, just factually, and the analytics tell us that we’re a much better basketball team when we move the basketball. So, you move the basketball, and everybody’s going to get a chance to eat.”
This marks Detroit’s first No. 1 seed since the 2006-07 season. That year, the Pistons reached the Eastern Conference Finals before falling to LeBron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers in six games. This group has different aspirations, different personnel, and a coach who refuses to let them get comfortable.
Bickerstaff’s approach throughout the season has been simple: stay present. “We think about exactly where we are in that moment, and that allows us to stay consistently, emotionally, and go out and play the game the right way,” he said.
With four games remaining and a possible Cunningham return on the horizon, Detroit has earned the right to feel good about what it has accomplished. But Bickerstaff is there to ensure that they won’t do it for long.
