Pistons’ coach referenced Celtics amid four-game losing streak

by

Morning sports update

Detroit’s lead in the Eastern Conference has diminished while Jayson Tatum returns to the lineup in Boston.

Detroit Pistons coach J.B. Bickerstaff during a game against the Heat on March 8. AFP Photos/Marta Lavander

By Hayden Bird

March 9, 2026 | 10:44 am

3 minutes to read

Pistons coach comments on the Celtics team: As the Celtics continue to gain momentum following the return of Jayson Tatum, attention (and added pressure) will inevitably swing back to the conference-leading Pistons at some point.

This is especially true amid Detroit’s current four-game losing streak. After sitting atop the Eastern Conference Since November 7ththe Pistons’ lead was cut to just two and a half games over the Celtics. Detroit coach J.B. Bickerstaff drew attention to his postgame comments on Sunday following the team’s latest loss, a 121-110 loss to the Heat. When asked about the Celtics, Bickerstaff kept things focused on his team.

“It’s the NBA, right? When you look at the season, it’s long. Everyone goes through tough times or is in a bit of a rut,” he explained. “We’ve just found our place now. And again, we have plenty of time to do what we need to do.”

“Boston is obviously a good team, but we’re not worried about Boston,” Bickerstaff added. “Our biggest concern is making sure we do what we need to do to go out and be as good as we can be. We have plenty of time to figure that out, and we will do that.”

Bickerstaff’s assertion that Detroit “isn’t interested in Boston” is bound to raise eyebrows, especially among Celtics fans. Still, the Detroit coach’s point is a logical one (focusing solely on getting his team — which still leads the conference — back into the win column).

The Pistons (45-18) will have a good chance to win on Tuesday over the Nets (16-47), although Brooklyn beat Detroit in its last game on Saturday. As for the Celtics (43-21), the road gets steeper with a trip to San Antonio against the Spurs on Tuesday followed by another road test against the defending champion Thunder on Thursday.

Trivia: J.B. Bickerstaff became an NBA head coach for the first time in 2015 after the Celtics legend was fired as head coach of the Houston Rockets?

(Answer below).

Hint: Number 32 has been retired by the Celtics.

Results and timelines:

The Celtics beat the Cavaliers 109-98 on Sunday. Boston will face the Spurs on Tuesday in San Antonio at 8 p.m

Also as of Sunday, the Bruins lost to the Penguins 5-4 in overtime. Next, the Bruins take on the Kings at TD Garden on Tuesday at 7 p.m

Boston’s fleet will be away at the Vancouver Golden Eyes on Wednesday, with the ball scheduled to drop at 10 p.m

The Boston Legacy will make his club debut in Saturday’s NFL opener at Gillette Stadium. Defending champion Gotham FC will be in town for the kickoff at 12:30 p.m.

On Sunday, the Revolution will make its first home appearance of 2026, hosting FC Cincinnati at 2:30 p.m.

More from boston.com:

Crazy terrier: Boston University men’s basketball upset top-seeded Navy in the Patriot League Conference semifinals on Sunday with a wild sequence at the end of regulation. The Terriers will face Lehigh in the conference tournament final on Wednesday with an automatic NCAA Tournament berth on the line.

Tatum’s return: The Celtics star scored 12 points in the first quarter of Sunday’s win en route to 20 points over the course of the game.

On this day: Thirty years ago, Ray Allen and UConn Allen defeated Iverson and Georgetown in a classic Big East Conference tournament final.

Daily highlight: In the sport’s latest lesson about never giving up, 36-year-old American runner Nathan Martin (high school and cross country coach) caught Kenya’s Michael Kimani Kamau at the line in the race. Closest finish in Los Angeles Marathon history. Martin pulled off the stunning upset by 0.01 second.

Trivia Answer: Kevin McHale

Hayden Beard is a sports writer for Boston.com, where he has worked since 2016. He covers all things New England sports.

Subscribe to our newsletter today

Get everything you need to know to start your day, delivered straight to your inbox every morning.


Leave a Comment