ORLANDO, Fla. – Duncan Robinson said the Detroit Pistons’ resilience has defined their postseason run, and that comfort in adversity could be the key to winning a winner-take-all Game 7.
Robinson, who played collegiately for the Michigan Wolverines, praised the Pistons’ composure after they erased a double-digit deficit and flipped momentum late in Game 6 against the Orlando Magic.
Recommended Videos
“This group has a lot of pride,” Robinson said. “When our backs are against the wall, we’re pretty comfortable there. There’s never a question of splintering. We just come together.”
Winning three minutes at a time
The Pistons trailed for long stretches before mounting a second-half surge fueled by defensive pressure and timely scoring. The win evened the series against the Orlando Magic and set up a winner-take-all Game 7.
Robinson said the Pistons remained confident even during difficult stretches, including a second quarter that swung heavily in Orlando’s favor.
“There was a lot of encouragement,” Robinson said. “We knew what it was going to take, just winning three minutes at a time. Once you win one stretch, you just move to the next.”
Defense builds its own momentum
Detroit’s defensive intensity proved decisive, highlighted by a stretch in which Orlando missed 23 consecutive shots.
“The same way confidence can build offensively, it can build defensively,” Robinson said. “Guys just didn’t want to be the weak link. It was effort across the board.”
Robinson also singled out reserve Paul Reed for providing a spark off the bench, crediting his energy and preparation.
“He was huge,” Robinson said. “He shows up every day ready, and when his number is called, you have total confidence in him.”
‘It’s going to be a war’
With the series now tied, Robinson said Game 7 is expected to be a physical, high-pressure battle back in Detroit.
“It’s going to be a war,” he said. “We’re excited to go home and play in front of our fans. It’s going to be a great challenge.”
Robinson added that the Pistons continue to grow through the series, even this deep into the postseason.
“We’re improving,” Robinson said. “Teams that make runs in the playoffs get better as they go, and that should be encouraging for us.”
--> Head coach J.B. Bickerstaff praises Detroit Pistons’ grit after 24-point rally forces Game 7