The decisive seventh game between the Cavaliers and Pistons is approaching. The victor will claim the final berth in the NBA’s penultimate round. Which individuals or teams face the greatest pressure? And which squad will secure its place in the Eastern Conference championship series this Sunday (Prime, 8 p.m. ET)? Our contributors offer their perspectives.
What are your thoughts on the Cavaliers-Pistons series as it approaches Game 7?
Ben Rohrbach: The Cavaliers really squandered a prime chance on their home court to eliminate the Pistons, a team that had previously appeared vulnerable to defeat multiple times this postseason. Yet, Detroit has become remarkably proficient in elimination matches, securing four consecutive definitive victories when facing elimination. Currently, it seems Cleveland is the team on the verge of collapsing, particularly with James Harden facing another pivotal Game 7.
Dan Devine: My confidence in either squad at this moment is low. However, I have greater faith in Detroit’s capacity to perform according to its established style—centered on Cade Cunningham’s leadership, aggressive play, and defensive pressure that forces errors—compared to the Cavaliers’ ability to adhere to… honestly, I’m still quite uncertain about Cleveland’s fundamental approach.
Dan Titus: This outcome is entirely expected for me—I predicted a seven-game series, and all the ongoing discussions throughout have remained relevant. Detroit’s reserve players were the standout performers in Game 6, shouldering the responsibility even as Cunningham faced difficulties (making 7 of 19 shots from the field and committing 7 turnovers), yet they still secured the victory. This presents a challenge for Cleveland. The Cavaliers’ strategy is apparent: continue involving their post players to alleviate the burden on Donovan Mitchell and Harden. For Detroit, the path to success requires Cade to reclaim his primary offensive role, and Jalen Duren must return to his dominant form witnessed in Game 6.
Tom Haberstroh: Hopefully, the more composed squad will triumph. Both teams are prone to committing costly turnovers, consistently making unforced errors throughout this series. The team that manages to significantly reduce its blunders in Game 7 will earn its spot in the Eastern Conference finals.
Who faces the highest stakes in the deciding Game 7?
Dan Devine: Donovan Mitchell. His remarkable playoff track record—averaging 27.8 points per contest, ranking as the seventh-highest scoring average in NBA postseason history for players with at least 50 games played—also features instances of underperformance, especially in games that could seal a series. Furthermore, he has shot below 40% from the field in three games this postseason, including matchups 5 and 6 against Detroit. Mitchell has never advanced beyond the second round. This is the essence of being a star: performances at this critical juncture are what truly define a player’s legacy, whether positively or negatively. This Sunday, it’s not merely that the Cavaliers require Mitchell to deliver an unforgettable performance; he also personally needs to do so.
Dan Titus: Cleveland’s guard duo. James Harden must finally perform effectively in a do-or-die scenario. He’s accumulating five turnovers per game this postseason, and in potential series-ending matches, his shooting percentages are 40% from the field and 31% from beyond the arc, coupled with a disappointing 1.44 assist-to-turnover ratio. Similarly, Mitchell—with a 5-7 record in closeout games, including a 6-for-20 shooting performance in Game 6—also needs to elevate his play. Both players have an opportunity to alter the long-standing criticisms associated with their postseason performances.
Can Donovan Mitchell advance past the second round? (AP Foto/Sue Ogrocki)
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Tom Haberstroh: Kenny Atkinson. The previous year’s Coach of the Year is aiming to escape the unfortunate pattern where figures like Mike Brown, Monty Williams, Tom Thibodeau, Nick Nurse, Mike Budenholzer, and Dwane Casey were dismissed from their roles not long after receiving the award. While it’s not necessarily true that Atkinson’s position is in immediate jeopardy, the offensive strategist must conjure an exceptional performance in Game 7 to relieve the pressure on his tenure.
Ben Rohrbach: Jalen Duren. This 22-year-old player will become a restricted free agent once the season concludes. Additionally, he is projected to be named to an All-NBA team soon, which would qualify him for a five-year, $288.8 million supermax contract extension. Granting him such a large sum would be imprudent for the Pistons, given his less-than-stellar performance in these playoffs; however, a victory in Game 7 could significantly boost Duren’s financial future.
Between the two, which team would pose a more formidable challenge for the New York Knicks?
Dan Titus: Detroit. During the regular season, the Pistons completely dominated the Knicks, sweeping them 3-0 with an average winning margin of 28 points. Following their elimination in the first round last year, Detroit will be highly motivated for vindication. Although the Knicks are currently a more robust team, Ausar Thompson consistently vexes Jalen Brunson. While New York is likely to win the series eventually, the Pistons would challenge them intensely, mirroring their performance in all prior series.
Ben Rohrbach: Detroit. While the Cavaliers possess offensive capabilities that the Pistons lack, Detroit is capable of achieving a defensive intensity and physical presence that Cleveland cannot match. Both attributes are essential when facing a Knicks team performing at its peak. If the Pistons can sufficiently disrupt the game, turning it into a one-on-one battle between Cunningham and Brunson, the contest could become quite compelling.
Tom Haberstroh: My belief is that the Knicks will easily prevail regardless of their opponent, but I lean towards the Pistons, who thoroughly defeated Mike Brown’s squad in the regular season. Cunningham, acting as a relentless offensive force, poses a significant defensive dilemma for a Knicks team potentially featuring a questionable OG Anunoby. The revamped Knicks, with Karl-Anthony Towns orchestrating their offense, are expected to have minimal difficulty scoring against either of these teams.
Dan Devine: For me, it’s Detroit, quite definitively. The Knicks found themselves utterly incapable of stopping Cunningham, who posted averages of 27.3 points, 11.0 assists, and 5.3 rebounds over 29.8 minutes per game against New York, with shooting splits of 51.6% from the field, 50% from three-point range, and 81.8% from the free-throw line. Moreover, with Thompson spearheading their defense, Detroit limited Brunson to 42.6% shooting and a mere 5-for-21 from beyond the arc, accumulating an equal number of turnovers and assists (12) across 99 minutes. While the New York squad observed recently appears significantly improved compared to the one the Pistons decisively defeated in January and February, those previous drubbings remain substantial enough that, if I were Mike Brown and his staff, I would prefer Cleveland secure an unexpected victory on Sunday, necessitating a trip to Madison Square Garden on Tuesday.
Which team will emerge victorious in Game 7?
Tom Haberstroh: The Pistons. Given how close the outcomes have been, I’m selecting the team that holds the home-court advantage, especially when facing James Harden in a Game 7. The further a series progresses, the more my belief in Harden’s consistent performance wanes. The veteran, aged 36, has been defeated in his last three Game 7 appearances after the opening round. I anticipate the Pistons will win this grinding contest.
Dan Devine: The Pistons, fueled by Cade’s seventh game of 30 or more points this postseason and a defensive display that restricts Mitchell and Harden to a combined 35% field goal percentage. An additional forecast: Paul Reed—also known as BBall Paul, The Out the Mud Folk Hero, or The People’s Champ—will achieve a 5×5 stat line coming off the bench, prompting spectators to question: Hold on, which Pistons center was considered worthy of a maximum contract, again?
Ben Rohrbach: The Pistons. We have witnessed Detroit’s resilience in three consecutive elimination games against the Orlando Magic, and in one such game against the Cavaliers thus far. The Pistons exhibit tenacity and are prepared for a battle. Conversely, we believe we understand the nature of both Cleveland and Harden in these high-stakes scenarios, despite their previous success in one elimination game against a short-handed Toronto Raptors squad.
Dan Titus: The Cavaliers. I am maintaining my initial forecast: Cleveland will claim victory in Game 7 away from home. The result depends on Mitchell and Harden delivering standout performances, minimizing their mistakes, and reliably passing the ball to players in the low post. Should the Cavaliers manage to compel Detroit’s secondary players to create offense, rather than allowing Cade to dominate them, Cleveland will gain an advantage. Anticipate a closely fought match, but the Cavaliers will secure an unexpected win.
