Detroit Pistons head coach JB Bickerstaff gave one of his players a great admiration for his performance against the Milwaukee Bucks.
Heading into the final game of the season, the Detroit Pistons didn’t play much, giving many rotation players a few minutes.
They endured a loss of 140-133 in overtime, but there were many positives from the game as well.
Malik Beasley, who fell out with Giannis Antetocomo in the previous match, led the scorer with 23 points off the bench, while Marcus Sasser added 18 points and 10 rebounds.
Lindy Waters III scored 15 points in the game in the 35-minute action, and it was his performance in the game that led to Bickerstaff to praise him at a post-match press conference.
Waters III moved to Piston as part of Jimmy Butler’s five-team trade.
He has not been able to lodge many minutes since then, but Bickerstaff revealed that he is one of the hardest-working players.
Speaking about Waters, the Pistons coach said:
“Look at his story about his background, how resilient he is to get here. How he had to climb every day, every step of the road, and you see the man who deserves it.”
The 27-year-old is a G-League champion and a great asset in his small forward position.
However, the pistons stacked up in that position, and Bickerstaff said that was one of the reasons he reduced a few minutes.
“Unfortunately, we don’t have much in the place, but he drives his tail away every day, because he’s an NBA rotation player and he’s ready to help us because the time comes when he needs him,” he said.
Under Bickerstaff’s guidance, the Pistons were able to make their first playoff appearance since the 2018-2019 season.
They also went to the playoff side with issues of just under a year from the team that had the lowest record in the league last season.
But this isn’t the first time, Bickerstaff has changed the team’s wealth.
He coached the Cleveland Cavaliers for four years before being assigned to work with the Pistons.
Bickerstaff coached the likes of Darius Garland and Jarrett Allen. Both are keys to the Cavs roster.
The pistons are young, but the physicality they show is special to see.
They play without fear and go to their opponents.
Bickerstaff failed to bring his regular season form into the playoffs when he was with the Cavs, but the piston is very different from the players he had with the Cavs.
They are young and talented, but when they play basketball, they are not afraid of their opponents.
The coach helped bring Detroit culture back to the team. This is what they went missing and now they’re back, so the young players they have are special and it’ll be difficult to contain them for a while.