The Detroit Pistons go up against the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 7 with the Conference Finals on the line. After an impressive road win on Friday, the Pistons proved once again that they are at their best when they have their backs against the wall.
With home teams historically having a 74% win percentage in Game 7s, the Pistons can't afford to be complacent against a dangerous Cavs team. Donovan Mitchell and James Harden have demonstrated that they can have big offensive games in this series. While the Pistons will rely on their defense to carry them over the finish line, they also need their offense to survive.
That is why they desperately need Duncan Robinson to play as many minutes as he can handle.
More Duncan Robinson means a higher chance of a Pistons win in Game 7
The 32-year-old sharpshooter has been an integral part of Detroit's success in the regular season and the playoffs. After leading the Pistons in on/off rating during the regular season, his importance to the team was made obvious once again in his absence in Game 5. Detroit went long stretches without scoring, and the offense fell off a cliff in the final stretch of the game.
Upon his return in Game 6, Robinson played a key role. Not only did he knock down four three-pointers, but he also kept the ball moving. His presence as an off-ball threat is crucial for the Pistons' spacing.
The problem is that Robinson was limited to only 20 minutes. He was questionable heading into the game with lower back soreness. His status remains the same with less than 12 hours before tipoff.
Robinson will surely push it to play as many minutes as he can in this do-or-die game. How much he is able to play will go a long way in deciding Detroit's fate in Game 7.
Throughout the playoffs, Robinson has made a whopping 44.7% of his three-pointers on an impressive volume of 7.1 attempts per game. He has seemingly been hitting threes whenever the Pistons needed it the most.
This is hardly surprising given Robinson's status as the most experienced player on the Pistons' roster. With 82 playoff games and two NBA Finals appearances under his belt, Robinson is familiar with the pressures of the postseason.
In a Game 7 situation, that is exactly what you need: A release valve you can trust on offense who won't hide from the moment. If Robinson is feeling good and able to play his usual share of minutes, the Pistons should feel great about their chances.
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