Isaiah Stewart names himself as Pistons' NBA Playoffs X-Factor vs. Magic originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.
The Detroit Pistons are the top-seeded team in the Eastern Conference for a reason. Coach JB Bickerstaff does not just have the luxury of having Jalen Duren and Cade Cunningham on his squad but also the depth to win 60 games. So far, those same players have not yet showed up against the Orlando Magic in the NBA Playoffs. With the Pistons being down 3-1, there is one person who thinks he can be the difference-maker: Isaiah Stewart.
Coach JB Bickerstaff will have to empty out all of his rotations and schemes in the next game against the Magic. The Pistons now have no margin of error if they wish to not be the third first-seed in NBA Playoffs history to get eliminated after going down 3-1. Obviously, Cade Cunningham needs to lessen his turnovers and Jalen Duren has to increase his offensive production but even those might not be enough.
Isaiah Stewart posits that doubling his production might be the key to the Pistons extending their series against the Magic, via Hunter Patterson of The Athletic.
“I know what I mean to this team, I know what I was drafted here to do and I know I’m built for playoff basketball. So I’m just ready whenever my name is called. And whenever my name is called, I’m ready to lay it on the line like I display every single night. At the end of the day, you’ve got to trust the game plan Coach has, and you’ve got to be there for your teammates. It sucks because I want to be out there more because I know what I bring, and I know the impact I have on the game," the Pistons' bruiser said.
Stewart had a big defensive impact in Game 4 against the Magic. Coach Bickerstaff may have only played him 17 minutes but he managed to notch eight blocks and three rebounds in that span of time. He also got eight points and an assist to make his mark on the Pistons offense. The only thing that held Stewart back was his four fouls which prevented him from gaining anymore momentum.
"I know the Magic don’t want me out there for a reason. So, yeah, it’s tough. But at the end of the day, be the best teammate that I can be. In these situations, you see who’s made of what. Our back is against the wall and it ain’t no quit. One game at a time, go protect the crib and come back to take one at their home. We’ve just got to take it a game at a time. Our back is against the wall, so we’ve got to fight like hell," Stewart added.
Game 5 is going to be won by the more physical and efficient team. Can Stewart help Cunningham and Duren lead the Pistons to a win so that their NBA Playoffs are extended?