Pistons Coach Issues Strong Message for Celtics on Sunday

“Boston, obviously, is a good team, but we’re not concerned about Boston,” Bickerstaff said. “Our biggest concern is making sure that we’re doing what we need to do to go out and be as good as we possibly can.”

The Pistons' regular-season series record against the Celtics backs up what Bickerstaff told the media. They played four games against each other this season, and Detroit almost swept the No. 2-seeded team, 3-1.

But the biggest difference for the Celtics has been Tatum's return. Although he's still looking to get comfortable with his shot, an additional star could be a significant factor.

For the Pistons, their loss to the Heat is their fourth straight. For the first time this season, Detroit had a four-game losing skid. The team is coming off a narrow 107-105 loss to the Brooklyn Nets on Saturday. After their disappointing defeat against Miami, Bickerstaff was asked if the result of the Nets game affected their performance.

However, the head coach downplayed it in front of reporters.

“Never going to be easy, but that’s not the reason,” Bickerstaff said. 

He said that it's a part of the long grind of the season. Bickerstaff acknowledged the group's strong performance this year but added that they still need to work things out.

This year, the Pistons have been dominant. They've outperformed themselves from last season and have taken over the entire conference. However, the team has only won once in March. There are worries about the team's ability to maintain its excellent play as the regular season draws to a close.

On Tuesday, the Pistons can avenge their loss to the Nets.