How Detroit Pistons Can Qualify for Playoffs on Sunday

They fell for the third time in a row and dropped to eighth place in the Eastern Conference – despite Blake Griffin's 45-point mark after missing three games with a left knee injury.

The Pistons want to do more than snap in the playoffs – they want to roar in the playoffs.

That was the message from Dwane Casey, first year coach, in the visitors' locker room at Chesapeake Energy Arena.

"We should have all three," said Pistons goalie Wayne Ellington. "I'm going to be greedy with that, we should have all three.

"We are facing teams that are not in playoffs. Charlotte is always in, so you have to respect them. Apart from that, we're going to play against teams that are not in playoffs, so we have to do business. "

Blake's back

Although the Pistons still have work to do, the fan base can be a little more relaxing with Griffin back in training.

He feared that his sore left knee would put his season at risk – especially after injuries sustained in recent seasons.

But the three offended games seemed to rejuvenate him.

Griffin was 11-in-20 and 9-in-14 from 3 points – a 3 points less than equalizing the franchise record for the marks in a match/ – against thunder /.

His third score at 3 pushed the Pistons' lead to 17-13 in the middle of the first quarter.

And his sixth in the first half – a 29-foot – gave the Pistons 66-65 a lead at halftime.

"There was no problem with his knee – that's obviously a good thing," said Pistons coach Dwane Casey.

But there were two problems.

No help for Griffin offensively.

André Drummond had big problems.

Reggie Jackson and Wayne Ellington teamed up to shoot 7-for-26 on the field.

Langston Galloway got 1 of 5 points in the 3-point range and Luke Kennard seemed overwhelmed by Thunder's length and athleticism.

Ish Smith (12 points) was the only perimeter threat to make at least half of his investment attempts.

And then, the Pistons were intimidated by 27 on the glass, which allowed the Thunder to score 27 points.

This is the third time in a row that the Pistons have been bullied as the Indiana Pacers have won honors in consecutive games.

"It's hard to overcome, no matter how difficult to play," Casey said. "I love our courage and I fight three quarters, but our rebound must come back to us. We have to do a better job by turning, hitting and then coming back to get the rebound. It was an Achilles heel, just as much as our bad attack was in the fourth quarter. "

Always in shape

Griffin – and most of the team members – were in a good mood.

They know that it would take a catastrophic failure to miss the playoffs, which would be the second appearance of the franchise in ten years.

"Mentally, we are in a good position," Griffin said. "We are resilient enough. We had ups and downs. I think we really believe in ourselves and I like that. "

Of the five teams competing for the last three places of the Eastern Conference, the Pistons have by far the easiest program, with a winning percentage of 35.4%.

But there is a scenario in which if the Pistons finish with a tie to three with Brooklyn and Miami in the last two places, they would be left out, because Heat and Nets would improve the record of 3-4 Pistons. against both teams.

Win two of the last three finals and it becomes questionable as the Heat and Nets face each other Wednesday in the regular season finale. The magic number of the Pistons to win a place in the playoffs is therefore three.

But at the end of the season, it's hard to count on the help of strong teams, which could help the players whose sowing is at the rendezvous – although this usually happens in the last two days of the season. season, coaches hesitating to pick up pace.

But that should not matter.

Win and enter.

"Everything that is personal, everything that happens in our lives – good, bad or indifferent – we have to empty it, come back as a band and be ready to perform on Sunday, then Tuesday and Wednesday," Casey said.