Mateo’s Hoop Diary: The Spurs need more from Victor Wembanyama in the Finals

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The New York Knicks are living their dreams up 2-0 in the Finals while the San Antonio Spurs are suffering through a nightmare. It’s been a fun series with Game 2 being the best playoff outing since the Western Conference Finals opener, and now the championship round has shifted to New York.

 

One could point to Victor Wembanyama turning the ball over by throwing it to Stephon Castle’s back, or coach Mitch Johnson not calling a timeout before that mistake late in Game 2, considering how shaky the team looked, or how Julian Champagnie has been San Antonio’s only deep threat. Yet the Knicks have gotten contributions from everyone and are ahead because they’ve made Wembanyama look human. Being the more macho team has made it difficult for him to get loose consistently on the inside, making him do the extra work to set up on the perimeter.

 

New York’s Game 2 win was like a body shot that tests the will of its victim. There will be no hiding how badly the Spurs want to keep going the moment they find themselves in a 15-point hole or give up a momentous run in the third quarter. 

 

Wembanyama had a huge third quarter in Game 2, scoring a dozen points on 62.5 percent shooting, but needs to put that type of pressure on New York every minute. He also can’t allow Karl-Anthony Towns to outplay him, especially in key moments. He’ll need to track KAT closer at the arc, and shoot better outside of the lane since he’s missed too many open 3-pointers. The only spot he’s shooting decently is at the rim, but he’s not strong enough to get there every time.

 

The reserves, Luka Kornet and Carter Bryant, have struggled and this means Wemby may have to play extra minutes than the 39.1 he’s averaging in the series. Logging that many is never easy, but many of the greats have done it when there was no other choice. Think back to Michael Jordan averaging 45 minutes in two playoff rounds, LeBron James doing the same seven times or how Wilt Chamberlain did that in 27 of 29 series. The best ones make sure they go down emptying the clip. 

 

Of course, De’Aaron Fox has to start playing like an All-Star again, too. He was nice in the fourth quarter of Game 2, but more of it is necessary so Wembanyama takes open jumpers or scores off easy rolls. 

 

Both games have been decided by 11 combined points. Unless the levy breaks because of mental resignation, the Spurs can still win in New York if they get nastier in the trenches and score more than 12 fastbreak points. 

 

Keep in mind that the Spurs are the third team to be in this position after losing the first two Finals games at home. The previous teams failed.



Indiana reporter Scott Agness says treatment from Pacers and Fever is “a little like bullying”

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Independent reporter Scott Agness doesn’t think he would be getting shut out by the Indiana Pacers and Fever if he had ESPN or the Indianapolis Star attached to his name with an editor overseeing his work. If he was at one of those spots, he would have the backing of an editor to handle what he describes as “a little like bullying.” He is the man serving the public with continuous coverage and that will not change despite being persona non grata.

 

Agness, is from Indiana, and was on the scene as far back as 2012. He reported in his Substack newsletter, Fieldhouse Files, on Tuesday about the situation, which first started with the Pacers limiting his access for the 2023-24 season before severing it completely after the All-Star weekend in Indiana. The Fever PR team recently took his credential over a dispute about the reporting of Caitlin Clark’s “strategic management plan.” Agness was notified of his standing by email and says there had never been any issue between he and the PR team.

 

The NBA changed its accessibility rules during the pandemic by creating a tier system for credentialed reporters. Agness was placed in the lower tier. He told Five Reasons Sports Network over the phone, “That negatively impacted me because I got placed in Tier Two because [of] running my own site. There’s like four or five different items of criteria. I covered all of them, the only thing that they did not like is that I run my own business, I did not have an editor. Editorial structure was the word.”

 

He says access was normal before that which meant full access. In the WNBA, they do not allow media inside locker rooms, so reporters are limited to press conferences, shoot-arounds and practice media availability. 

 

In regards to the locker room access, Agness said, “I think for us reporters the biggest thing is it takes away the ability to make observations. Like you see in March Madness, you can see the highest of highs and the lowest of lows, whether it’s a team celebrating together, a couple of players in the corner watching film, or the other way: a player frustrated with their performance with a towel over their head. That is great color that I think you can share with fans.”

 

Not being in those spaces denies the opportunity to talk to a handful of other players. Doing so benefits the public, and as a result creates more interest in the league. 

 

When Agness was still around the Pacers, one of his go-tos in the locker room was talking to the last few players on the bench. “They have a really good feel about where the team is at, what’s going on and why things are working,” Agness said.

 

In those days, David Benner was in charge of the Pacers’ PR team. He died in 2023, and was replaced. Agness never had much of a working relationship with the new chief before he took over and explains in his Tuesday report about his emails not being responded to. Agness just wants a fresh start.

 

Also in his report, he wrote that Pacers PR said he parked in the media parking lot when he wasn’t supposed to. He told FRSN they never provided proof of the accusation, which was used as justification for taking his credential, and that he said it felt “like an excuse they are looking for. That feels like a jail sentence for what should be a parking ticket.”

 

Agness has tried to handle the situation with the Pacers through back channels, but couldn’t remain silent after the Fever barred him. It hasn’t been easy because helping fans connect with the teams is what he loves to do, and he has described the situation as frustrating in a separate interview he did with Caroline Fenton and Coley Harvey of Yahoo Sports.  

 

After Agness’ report, there was mass outpouring of journalists coming out in support of him, posting on X (formerly Twitter). He posted, “I want to thank everyone for the support over the last few days. I know many of you have been asking, but I don’t have an update to share. The work continues. The Fever are back in action tonight, and I’ll keep doing the work and showing up.”

 

It’s unclear when or if he’ll get his credentials back. 



Independent reporter says he was denied access by the Pacers and Fever

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It’s never a good day when a reporter has his credentials snatched for doing his job. Scott Agness, the independent reporter who created his Substack newsletter Fieldhouse Files, says the Indiana Pacers (in 2024) and the Fever recently took his.

 

He reported on Caitlin Clark’s absence that it was “part of a strategic management plan for the season,” and stood by it when challenged by the Fever’s PR department. Their position is that he spread misinformation, when his reporting is consistent with Clark’s handling.

 

Keep in mind that Agness has been on the scene, covering the Fever since 2013, way before they were the biggest attraction in the WNBA. He was also there when they were in the Finals in 2015.

 

The type of treatment Agness describes from the W is not a surprise. In my case, I’ve only ever found the league communications office helpful when asking about something that could help them (Asking for numbers on national TV games when the league started — my point was highlighting how growing a league takes a lot of years.) 

 

Two years ago, I emailed one of the two directors for WNBA Communications, Ron Howard, if the league was looking into Diana Taurasi’s dangerous late-game hit on Cheyenne Parker-Tyus at a critical moment in the game. His first response back was, “Are you a member of the media?”  when we had communicated in the past, and I had been on a conference call with him on it, and he refused to let me ask a question.

 

Perhaps they would have treated Agness with respect if ESPN or CBS were attached to his byline. Or maybe he should have been a shill, and then he’d still have his pass. As long as he remains out of the press room, the public suffers for it.

 

The WNBA Communications office did not respond to a request for comment, and Agness did not answer a request for an interview. 

 

Update: Five Reasons Sports was able to talk to Scott Agness after this was published. Check that out here.



Mateo’s Hoop Diary: The 2026 Finals will be a special series

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What a time to be alive for New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs fans. The former have patiently waited to get back to the promised land since their magical eighth-seed run in 1999, and the latter has come this far in the build’s first playoff run.

 

Keep in mind that these have been the most-watched playoffs in 28 years, per NBA Communications. The Finals start on Wednesday in San Antonio and those numbers should be great as well. 

 

The Knicks last won in 1973 defeating the Los Angeles Lakers for the second time, and Willis Reed, who hit a momentous mid-range jumper late, was the Finals MVP. Yet, it shouldn’t be forgotten how critical Walt “Clyde” Frazier’s third-quarter takeover was in the closeout Game 5, which was also Wilt Chamberlain‘s last outing.

 

The Spurs’ fifth ring came in 2014 after they savaged the Big Three Miami Heat. Kawhi Leonard was Finals MVP, and he erupted into Miami’s bringer of panic, pain and partition. 

 

So it’s been a long time coming — and this encounter can’t be a bigger embarrassment for Vivek Ranadivé, owner of the wasting Sacramento Kings, which had De’Aaron Fox and Mike Brown both on the team as late as the 2023-24 season.

 

The Knicks had their guts tested when down 2-1 to the Atlanta Hawks, and haven’t lost since. Take a look at these playoff stats:

 

Jalen Brunson has been tearing up any scheme, and is making 54.7 percent of his two-pointers.

 

Karl-Anthony Towns has more than doubled his playoff assists average (5.9).

 

Mikal Bridges is scoring 16.6 points, shooting 63.8 percent over his last 11 games.

 

The Knicks have the top defensive rating in the playoffs (103.5).

 

New York has the highest rebounding percentage (54.8).

 

One of their most important tasks will be limiting the Spurs in transition. Notably, the Spurs have the highest playoff frequency, but the Knicks have been more efficient, logging a sharp 1.32 points per possession. 

 

Now take a look at these playoff numbers for San Antonio:

 

They have the second-best defensive rating (104.4).

 

Victor Wembanyama is scoring 11.2 points in the paint and taking 6.8 free throws per game (87 percent).

 

De’Aaron Fox averages the most deflections on the team (3.4) and recovers the most loose balls (offense 0.6, defense 0.6).

 

One of the things to keep an eye on is the 3-point shooting. They allow between 17 and 18 wide-open 3-point attempts per night, but New York has been drastically affected less, giving up 31.8 percent to San Antonio’s 37.1. The winner of this series could be determined by which team is more disciplined, staying attached to shooters, especially late if the game is close.

 

Another thing to key in on will be who Karl-Anthony Towns guards if OG Anunoby is checking Wemby. Expect the Spurs to test Towns’ resistance defending at the level of the screen, too. 

 

Considering how the Knicks will be the strongest opponent the Spurs have seen, it might be a good idea for coach Mitch Johnson to play Wembanyama more than 37.7 minutes per game, like was allowed in the Western Conference Finals against Oklahoma City. He’s a top-shelf athlete so he should be able to power into the 40s.

 

The outcomes are tantalizing. If the Spurs win, Wembanyama will be crowned as the new face of the league. And if New York triumphs with Brunson leading the charge, like he has been, the he will join rarified air next to Isiah Thomas and Stephen Curry as the small guards of history to lead their team to a championship.

 

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Notes on the Western Conference Finals between OKC and San Antonio

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The Western Conference Finals are headed for Game 7 in Oklahoma City on Saturday, deciding which team will face off against the New York Knicks in the championship round.  As it was correctly pointed out on Game 6’s NBC/Peacock broadcast, it’s been the best WCF since 2018. 

 

Here are some quick stats ahead of Game 7:

 

1.The Spurs haven’t been able to punish OKC from the corners (29.8 percent).

 

2.OKC’s bench (49.1) has outscored San Antonio’s (28.8) in all but one game. 

 

3.The leading scorers for each team have been Shai Gilgeous-Alexander (24.3 on 37.9 percent shooting) and Victor Wembanyama (28.2 on 48.2 percent accuracy).

 

4.Before this postseason, home teams won a Game 7 74.2 percent of the time. The Cleveland Cavaliers and Philadelphia 76ers were the only teams that won a Game 7 on the road this year.

 

5.The only road victories of the series were Game 1 for the Spurs and Game 3 for the Thunder. 

 

Naturally, both sides are sick of each other; the Thunder have flopped, plus Lu Dort has deployed dirty tactics, like recklessly jumping into De’Aaron Fox’s leg. Carter Bryant has given it back to them by ramming into Shai Gilgeous-Alexander twice in Game 6 and was lucky he didn’t get ejected. 

 

The champs are at a disadvantage because their second-best player (Jalen Williams) made an ineffective return from hamstring injury following a three-game absence, and Ajay Mitchell missed the last three outings with a calf strain, too. Yet Shai Gilgeous-Alexander is further validating his MVP crown by picking up the slack for them and others. While the sportsbooks favor the Thunder, it will still take a top-notch performance from SGA to eliminate the Spurs since Chet Holmgren has been physically overmatched for much of the series.

 

The same can be said for Wembanyama if he wants to put down the champs. The best way he can do that is to catch most of his passes from the middle to short range, so he doesn’t have to work as hard. Putting him in motion as the curler around stagger and down screens, or passing to him after using him as the screener, would help.

 

On top of that, since its Game 7, coach Mitch Johnson can’t conserve Wemby’s minutes, and has to be prepared to let him go into the 40s without overtime, especially when Fox has been having a rough series. Playing him below 40 was one of the reasons they lost Game 2, 3 and 5 as well.

 

The Thunder are chasing history to be the eighth team to repeat and the first since 2017 & 2018 (Golden State Warriors). The Spurs are the new kids on the block that want what they have. This will be a series that’s remembered.

 

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Adjustments the Spurs can make ahead of Game 3 against the Thunder

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The Western Conference Finals are deadlocked at 1-1 in what’s shaping up to be a classic series. It’s appointment viewing for hardcore hoop heads because it’s two 60+ win teams with one side having the MVP (Shai Gilgeous-Alexander) and the other having the next face of the league, who is averaging 31 points and 20.5 rebounds (Victor Wembanyama).

 

Coach Mitch Johnson didn’t have an immediate update after Game 2 on Dylan’s Harper’s status. Harper is currently questionable for Friday’s outing. Additionally, Jalen Williams’s hamstring injury is somehow being treated as day-to-day by the OKC Thunder.

 

With the next two games in San Antonio, there’s a few things the Spurs could try to help take control of the series. Let’s review. 

 

Keldon Johnson needs more minutes

 

Keldon Johnson’s strength allows him to have success against bigger OKC players at close range. Keep in mind that all five of his rebounds in Game 2 were offensive.

 

The role of sixth man is important, but he is better than a 24-minute player in a high-stakes series. He can create his own shot and handle physicality better than Julian Champagnie, who should not be playing more than 27 minutes, but has to now if De’Aaron Fox and Dylan Harper are out for Game 3.

 

Consider how the lineup featuring Devin Vassell, Stephon Castle, Victor Wembanyama with Champagnie and Johnson has been one of their best in the playoffs, logging an excellent 105 defensive rating in 10 minutes. It’s never a bad idea to lean hard on the defense and while this unit hasn’t been tested for long spurts in the playoffs, it could turn into an ace in coach Johnson’s sleeve: it has two ball handlers, two snipers who can guard and a demigod.

 

The non-Wemby minutes

 

Luke Kornet played an important role in being the team’s reserve big man this seasion, yet it’s ideal to limit his minutes, potentially to less than the 10 he’s averaging. The Thunder are a bad matchup for him, and insist on attacking his weaknesses through screen rolls. 

 

There’s two solutions: use veteran Harrison Barnes as the backup center, which would bring in the threat of an accurate release valve who can guard up. A double would have to come to help depending on how deep his matchup catches an inside pass, but this must be considered since he can play at the level of the screen better than Kornet. 

 

Then there’s Carter Bryant, the extremely athletic and strong perimeter pest. He’s age 20, but like Harper, shouldn’t be looked at as a rookie anymore since they’ve lapped their peers in experience. Bryant can do all the things Barnes does defensively as a small-ball five at a higher level.  

 

Castle needs to cut down on turnovers 

 

The team is averaging 22 turnovers, and Castle is responsible for 10 per game. The Spurs are in a tricky situation here because De’Aaron Fox (ankle) is also questionable on the injury report. Assuming Fox and Harper don’t play, Castle has to step up with his ball security by not recklessly passing and driving into traffic.

 

Consider how the Thunder are only averaging 12 fastbreak points per game. The Spurs can be even sharper in getting back if they play with less mistakes.

 

Yet most importantly, they need to be cut down so Wemby has as many opportunities as possible with the ball. As much as pick-and-pop plays are useful, Castle needs to get him the ball closer to the rim in half-court actions so he doesn’t work as hard. In Game 2, the first shot Wemby took starting his offense inside the arc was in the third quarter, and nearly all of his possessions started from the outside. 

 

Perhaps Castle will make easier passes if Wemby is put in more motion.


Mateo’s Hoop Diary: The Pistons need to get Cade Cunningham more help

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The 60-win Detroit Pistons disappointed with a Game 7 blowout loss at home in round two to the Cleveland Cavaliers, but their weaknesses were exposed in the quarterfinal against the Orlando Magic. 

 

Keep in mind that the Cleveland Cavaliers, the team that beat the Pistons, have another capable ball handler next to their best player. The San Antonio Spurs and Oklahoma City Thunder, which are the best two teams in the playoffs now facing off in the Western Conference finals, have three shot creators each. It only adds to the urgency that the Indiana Pacers will return to contending status next season after a gap year because of the injuries, and they also have at least three dependable ball handlers.

 

Ausar Thompson is entering his fourth year, but he is not ready to be even the third offensive option in Detroit. Tobias Harris had great moments in the playoffs, but can’t be the second scorer, and Duncan Robson is a top-notch release valve. 

 

The worst thing the Pistons could do is get comfortable because title windows are short. Cade Cunningham, who averaged an awful 5.6 turnovers through two rounds, needs more help on offense in the form of another high-level shot creator, and finding one should be the top priority of the off-season. They should be thinking about big fish like Jaylen Brown or Ja Morant, and if they have to give up something valuable, then so be it. 

 

It will be a painful offseason for those kept around, and Thompson even said in the locker room after defeat that the team would “let it sting.” Their effort in Game 7 lacked the same intensity they displayed in three-straight elimination games against the Magic and two nights previously in Cleveland. It was similar to how flat the Miami Heat came out at home in Game 7 of the 2022 Eastern Conference Finals against the Boston Celtics, which they lost after being the first seed that year.  

 

Humiliation is one of the best teachers and it’s something great players have experienced before taking a leap. Nobody should be writing off Jalen Duren, who averaged 9.3 less points in the playoffs, and Thompson for that reason.

 

The Pistons had a 16-win improvement in the 2025-26 regular season — if they make a similar leap next year, not in terms of wins but in potency, then they’ll be one of the top squads in the league with a better shot at the tile.



Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Jamahl Mosley is the new coach of the New Orleans Pelicans

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 Despite the Orlando Magic blowing a 3-1 lead to the Detroit Pistons in round one of the playoffs, the New Orleans Pelicans found their new head coach in recently fired Jamahl Mosley. They clearly like him because they gave him a fifth year in his contract, per ESPN’s Shams Charania.

 

At the very least, Mosley established he is a gateway coach that will help legitimize a team. The Magic were not as defensively potent this season as they were in 2024 and 2025 (second ranked in both), but some of that is on the injuries to key players and a bit of the message going stale after a while. 

 

One thing he will demand more out of the team is commitment on defense, especially from Zion Williamson in screen rolls and in small lineups. As the playoffs have shown, teams need to be able to bang with the big boys at close range because versatile size is king. 

 

The Pelicans have more talent than the typical 26-win team, yet they play in the superior conference and do not have a first-round draft pick this season, as it was owed to Atlanta. A good year in 2026-27 would be reaching the first round of the playoffs, whether by going through the Play-In Tournament or not. Those are only modest expectations because it’s hard to expect more when the ultra-talented Williamson has logged at least 60 games thrice since 2019-20. If he, who is going into his eighth season (well, seventh because he didn’t play in2021-22 due to injury), can change the narrative on his health, the Pelicans have a chance to be more than a respectable team early. 

 

Keep in mind that the Pelicans were only the seventh seed in 2024 with 49 regular-season wins. The Golden State Warriors and Phoenix Suns (before the Play-In Tournament) in the following years were the seventh seed with 48 and 45 wins.

 

Notably, the area Mosley’s teams needed an upgrade is the offense because they didn’t have enough movement, passing and screening. Hiring some different minds for his assistants could alleviate some of those issues, yet he also needs to improve the same way it’s expected of players. 

 

It will be the area he is judged most critically, and he at least has to have the team be better than the 11th-ranked attack since that was the best it was during the Willie Green era. The next area of importance will be the development of the youngsters such as Jeremiah Fears, Yves Missi, Derik Queen. 

 

Mosley has a great agent in Bret Just of WME Basketball for getting him a gig where he doesn’t have to start over from the basement. Now it’s on him to show he was the guy and not just the best name available on the coaching market.



Mateo’s Hoop Diary: Hall-of-Famer Carmelo Anthony shares his thoughts on the upcoming Western Conference Finals

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The Oklahoma City Thunder are still the team to beat on their quest for back-to-back titles, even with Jalen Williams hamstring injury keeping him absent so far, but the San Antonio Spurs are reaching for the throne. The upcoming clash between the regular season’s top-two Western powers will begin on Monday in OKC.

 

They played five times before the playoffs, which included an NBA Cup game, with the Spurs winning four of them, but considering how the physicality has been raised 80° since, it’s hard to use those games to gauge which team has the advantage.

 

Hall of Famer Carmelo Anthony imparted his wisdom in his interview with D.J. Siddiqi on these matters, saying, “ “Regular season doesn’t mean anything right now. It’s a different brand of basketball. I know people want to put one up against the other, but it’s a different brand of basketball. Nobody’s even thinking about regular season once you’re in the playoffs.”

 

Another thing the Hall of Famer is sure about is that great players can’t be shut down. Much of that has to do with the rules favoring the offensive player since hand checks are outlawed and carrying violations are not always enforced, which is a huge disadvantage for the man back peddling. Nonetheless, when it comes to Victor Wembanyama, the challenge is making it difficult for him for “48 minutes.”

 

The Thunder will try but, Wembanyama‘s height and passing gifts make him a threat to dissect double teams. That’s a lethal combination with three high-level ball handlers that eat up schemes at the point of attack. The challenge gets tougher since he is a good roamer without the ball behind the arc and on the baseline. He’s shown he can be dormant while he waits for his teammates to get going, then he turns into a supernova.

 

Guarding Wemby presents even more problems because he can dribble up court, and pull up from long range. Setting early pick up points against that are not the same as sending them at someone like Kevin Durant, who is still close to seven feet, but not skyscraper big.  The playoffs have made it clear that using bully-ball to bother Wembanyama gets canceled out by his length.

 

On the other side, one thing the Thunder could try is to make Wembanyama work by limiting Isaiah Hartenstein’s minutes on the floor with him. While Hartenstein has a nice jump hook from the short to mid range area, Wembanyama can complicate things for OKC by sagging off to the middle like he did against Portland and Minnesota successfully. If Chet Holmgren is playing center, it will force Wembanyama to guard a real scoring option.

 

As the stakes rise with each round and coverages get tighter, this could be a tough series for Luke Kornet because he is a slower-footed disruptor, most ineffective outside of the lane. It’s not what the Spurs want to do, but this could mean Wemby playing close to 40 minutes a game because he’s a much stronger against screen rolls, especially if they are coming from Shai Gilgeous-Alexander.

 

Anthony said Wembanyama is the best defender in the NBA — it helps that he’s got major help because opposing ball handlers have a quality disruptor switched on to them at every turn. Still, the Thunder are capable of matching San Antonio’s defensive potency and bring their own edge to that side.

 

All of the talent featured in this Western Conference Finals could create a classic series that will be remembered for decades. Make no mistake: this series will be the equivalent of two heavyweights facing off in a title eliminator. 

 

Mateo’s Hoop Diary: The three Cavaliers deserving the most credit for the Game 5 win in Detroit

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The Cleveland Cavaliers stunned the Pistons in Detroit, coming back from a 15-digit deficit to win Game 5 in overtime. It looked like it would be a quick series because Detroit seized the first two outings, but now it shifts back to Cleveland for the sixth confrontation.

 

It’s not over but the winner of a Game 5 after being tied 2-2 advances 81.5 percent of the time.

 

Props in order: James Harden, who has taken relentless criticism for his playoff performances, came through with his best game of the series, which included a combined 18 points between the second and third quarters. He kept putting pressure on the defense by getting to the line, which took pressure off Donovan Mitchell, who didn’t step up until overtime. 

 

Harden’s play of the night was recovering an offensive rebound off his own missed free throw while the Cavs were up three points with 24.4 seconds left. He even cranked up his defense after Cade Cunningham locked him up, by putting pressure on the ball and forcing misses. 

 

Additionally, Evan Mobley found his groove in the second half, finding shooters and cutters out of the short roll, plus he scored on two rim strikes and two 3-pointers, which included the shot to cut the deficit to two points with 82 seconds left of the fourth quarter. 

 

And mad Max Strus was the perfect release valve, nailing six 3-pointers, and had one pivotal play of overtime when he stripped Cunningham in Detroit’s territory and flicked the ball to Mitchell for a pick-6. Coach Kenny Atkinson quickly mentioned that play when asked about one that stood out to him. 

 

The Pistons were affected by Duncan Robinson’s absence (sore back) by not having a reliable punisher when Cunningham was doubled. It was also impossible to ignore Tobias Harris remembering he’s a mortal, and J.B. Bickerstaff, the Cavaliers’ former coach, benching his brawny big man, Jalen Duren, for the third-stringer Paul Reed (remember him Doc Rivers?), who didn’t play scared and logged every minute of the fourth quarter. 

 

Each series is different because of the matchups, but the Pistons can at least tell themselves that they’ve been in this situation before versus Orlando, and believe they are capable of an encore. But the Cavs are undefeated in these playoffs at home. 

 

Additionally, the Cavaliers are on the verge of going to their first conference finals since 2018, which was LeBron James’ last year with the team. A good case could be made that Mitchell has been the organization’s second-best player ever in his four tours with them. 

 

The series is in the equivalent of the championship rounds in boxing — regardless of how much longer it goes, it’s been a delight to witness the Cavaliers-Pistons rivalry reborn.