The Detroit Pistons survived the brutal first-round series against the Orlando Magic, overcoming a 3-1 deficit to advance to the second round. It was ugly at times, and it wasn't the convincing performance from the No. 1 seed, but the Pistons got over the first-round hump for the first time since 2008.
Now, a more difficult matchup against the Cavs awaits them. The series starts 0-0, which means that it's a fresh start for several players who struggled against Orlando. For these players, it's a chance to prove their worth to the franchise before the offseason.
1. Ron Holland
The second-year player was out of the Pistons' rotation after Game 2 against the Magic. JB Bickerstaff was quick to make Holland the odd man out when the Pistons struggled to score. Holland's offensive shortcomings are and continue to be a problem, limiting his role in this postseason run.
Yet, he has a chance to redeem himself against Cleveland. Every playoff series has its own dynamics, and Holland may find himself back in the rotation. The Pistons will have to find a defensive answer for both James Harden and Donovan Mitchell. Ausar Thompson will almost certainly guard one of them for long stretches of the series. Holland will be given a shot at some point in the series to defend the other.
The Pistons will have an advantage in physicality and athleticism over the Cavs. Bickerstaff may choose to lean into this throughout the series, especially considering Harden and Mitchell's struggles against young, athletic defenders. Harden can be turnover-prone against active defenders. Holland can force a ton of turnovers with his length and help defense instincts.
If Holland wants a future in Detroit, it's time to prove where he can make an impact on this team. Being a part of a successful defense against Harden and Mitchell would be a great start to do just that.
2. Caris LeVert
After getting inconsistent minutes throughout the Orlando series, the veteran guard fell out of the rotation in Game 7. LeVert's inability to make an impact offensively has continued into the postseason and is one reason why the Pistons failed to score efficiently against the Magic.
If LeVert isn't hitting shots or creating consistently, his minutes will be limited once again. Especially with Daniss Jenkins starting to play well, both as the primary creator in bench units and next to Cade Cunningham, there is little room for LeVert in the rotation.
Going up against his former team in Cleveland, LeVert will have some matchup advantages and extra motivation, so this could earn him some minutes early on in the series. If he doesn't make a two-way impact, however, his time in the rotation may be short-lived. This will mean he would enter the offseason as the prime trade candidate due to his expiring salary of $14.8 million for the 2026-27 campaign.
3. Jalen Duren
None of this matters if Duren isn't playing significantly better than he did in Round 1. The Pistons scraped by against the Magic despite Duren's disastrous performance, but against a better Cleveland team, they will need their All-Star center to play like it.
Duren showed signs of life in Game 7 on Sunday, recording his first double-double of the series while playing 37 minutes. It took him a long time to find a way to be effective and productive against Wendell Carter Jr. This can't be repeated against the Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen frontcourt.
His production is of utmost importance for the Pistons' chances of advancing, as well as Duren's impending free agency. He will be looking for a max extension with Detroit over the summer, but if he repeats his first-round performance against the Cavs, the Pistons will understandably be hesitant to give him what he is looking for. This could create tension between the 22-year-old center and the Pistons, prolonging negotiations and potentially leading to Duren's eventual exit.
To prevent that, Duren has to dominate the interior, be active on the boards, and physically overwhelm the Cavs' bigs. This will be one of the most important storylines of the series.
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