DETROIT – Ronald Holland II knew something was different the moment he stepped onto the floor for Game 1.
In his first meaningful taste of playoff basketball, the Detroit Pistons forward soaked in a roaring home crowd and delivered a poised performance in a victory over the Cavaliers, punctuated by a buzzer-beater at the end of the third quarter that pushed the team’s lead back to seven.
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“The crowd was amazing,” Holland II said. “I feel like that was my real first playoff run. I felt the crowd a lot.”
From nerves to ‘I’m here now’
One sequence crystallized the moment for the second-year forward. After passing up an open shot, Holland II heard the crowd react instantly, a surge of energy that erased any lingering nerves.
“That was one of the moments I felt like, I mean, I’m here now,” Holland II said. “All the nerves and stuff got to go, and I was ready to go out there and hoop.”
The buzzer-beater not only capped a key stretch for Detroit but also marked a personal milestone for Holland II, who is carving out a role on the postseason stage.
Asked when he last made a shot that dramatic, he smiled.
“I haven’t hit a buzzer-beater like that in a minute,” Holland II said. “I want to say high school, but that one definitely felt really good. I feel like I needed that one.”
Known more for his defense and energy, Holland II’s late-game heroics underscored his growing confidence.
His teammates fed off the moment as the ball dropped through the net, and the home crowd erupted.
Guarding Cleveland’s elite backcourt
Holland II’s emergence comes as Detroit leans on its depth in a physical postseason matchup against Cleveland’s dynamic backcourt.
Tasked with guarding elite scorers, Holland II acknowledged the challenge of balancing aggression with discipline.
“I have a problem when guys make shots on me,” Holland II said. “But those guys get paid to do that. I’ve got to be OK with some of those going in.”
Avoiding foul trouble will be critical as the series progresses.
Holland II said the key is adapting to officiating while maintaining his defensive identity.
“Just play smart and be aggressive,” Holland II said. “See how the refs are calling the game, because it’s going to be different every single game.”
Bench depth, resilience on display
Detroit’s bench played a pivotal role in the opener, providing timely scoring and energy.
Holland II described a collective focus among reserves to stay ready.
“We know what the bench is capable of,” Holland II said. “When our name is called, make sure we’re ready and go out there and make an impact.”
The Pistons’ resilience was tested when Cleveland rallied to tie the game late, but Detroit responded with a decisive run, a sign of growth from previous seasons.
“We had a lot of moments last year we learned from,” Holland II said. “I think we’re prepared for situations like that.”
‘You never know when it’s your night’
For Holland II, consistency has defined his young career. Having rarely missed time, he now faces the unpredictability of playoff rotations, but his approach hasn’t changed.
“That’s the NBA,” Holland II said. “You never know when it’s your night. If you’re in the gym every single day, when your coach calls your name, you go out there and trust your work.”
As the series shifts to Game 2, Holland II’s role could continue to expand. Still, he insists his focus remains simple.
“I wasn’t going into the series thinking about that,” Holland II said. “I just want to be as prepared as possible.”
Ausar Thompson
Watching Ausar Thompson impact a playoff series without needing the ball constantly in his hands left an impression on Holland II ahead of Game 2 against Cleveland.
Holland II said Thompson’s ability to stay effective through effort, timing, and athleticism stood out during Detroit’s first-round series.
“I mean, just being at the right spot at the right time,” Holland II said. “Ausar got a different type of athleticism, so he can make up for a lot of the mistakes, whatever he does.”
Thompson’s activity on both ends helped fuel Detroit throughout the opening round, even when opponents focused on limiting his offensive opportunities.
Holland II said the biggest lesson was seeing Thompson remain confident and impactful regardless of how defenses played him.
“One thing that I picked up from him is just keep being him,” Holland said. “He ain’t have a team that’s guarding him. He not letting that affect him. He finding another way to be effective.”
Holland added that Thompson’s approach is something he believes he can apply to his own game moving forward.
“I’m really watching that, and I feel like I can take a lot from it,” Holland II said.
If Game 1 was any indication, Holland II already is.