Fans are eagerly anticipating a Detroit Pistons playoff win at home against the Orlando Magic, which they believe would mean 'everything.' This would mark the Pistons' first home playoff victory since 2008.
Key points
Fans are excited for the Pistons' playoff game against the Magic.
The Pistons haven't won a home playoff game since 2008.
Kenden Taylor, an 11-year-old fan, expressed the game's importance in one word: 'Everything.'
The Pistons have lost three opening-round playoff series without a home win.
Detroit PistonsOrlando MagicBoston CelticsCleveland Cavaliers
Fans showed up early to hang out outside of Little Caesars Arena on Sunday afternoon despite the cold temperatures just to have somewhere to be excited ahead of Game 1 of the first round of the NBA playoffs against the Orlando Magic.
They were hoping to witness the Pistons' first home playoff victory since the team won Game 4 of the Eastern Conference Finals, 94-75 over the Boston Celtics, on May 26, 2008. The Pistons went on to lose the Boston series.
The team has since lost three opening-round playoff series without a victory (Cleveland Cavaliers 2009, Cleveland Cavaliers 2016 and Milwaukee Bucks 2019), while winning two games on the road against the New York Knicks last season before losing the series 4-2 without a home victory.
It's a frustrating streak, but not one that's kept die-hard fans from having faith in the team's chance this year.
"I know we're going to win," said Indigo Zuri of Detroit. Zuri was first in line at the Comerica entrance to the arena, despite still holding onto a bit of the grief over last year's loss to the Knicks.
Q&A
When was the last time the Detroit Pistons won a home playoff game?
The last home playoff victory for the Detroit Pistons was on May 26, 2008, against the Boston Celtics.
Who are the Detroit Pistons playing in the first round of the playoffs?
The Detroit Pistons are playing against the Orlando Magic in the first round of the NBA playoffs.
What do fans think a Pistons playoff win would mean?
Fans believe that a Pistons playoff win would mean 'everything' to them, highlighting the significance of the game.
How many playoff series have the Pistons lost without a home victory?
The Pistons have lost three opening-round playoff series without a home victory since 2009.
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The Taylor family, from left, Kenden, 11, Thai, Karson, 9, and Kenny, of Toledo skipped a soccer game to come to the Detroit Pistons home playoff game on Sunday afternoon.
The Taylor family, from left, Kenden, 11, Thai, Karson, 9, and Kenny, of Toledo skipped a soccer game to come to the Detroit Pistons home playoff game on Sunday afternoon.
"I was here last year," Zuri said. "I was so sad, I cried."
The mother-daughter team of Susan Jenkin and Morgan Riddle were so confident the game would be good, they flew in from the Seattle area to see it.
Jenkin used to live in Michigan, she said, in Ypsilanti and the Upper Peninsula. Naturally, her daughter grew up a Pistons fan, despite never living here.
"I inherited the Michigan," Riddle said.
They had seen the team on the road this year in Portland, but had to make the trip to Detroit for the playoffs.
Riddle said she already was looking ahead.
"I see us easily going to the Eastern Conference Finals," she said.
Being the No. 1 seed, after all, comes with high expectations.
"I think it puts pressure on us, but we do really well when we have pressure on us," Riddle said.
The key to victory, her mother said — "determination."
Several fans were succinct in their keys to the game, reflecting a just-get-it-done attitude.
John Talos of Chesterfield said Pistons center Jalen Duren needed to have a good game for the team to win.
Talos brought his 7-year-old son, John, to the game, expecting he might "be going in a little late" to school in the morning, but it would be worth it.
"Just seemed like an opportunity to take the little guy to his first playoff game," Talos said.
Kenden said his expectation was simple: "For the Pistons to get the W."
He missed a soccer game to come with his family to his first playoff game, but it was worth it, he said.
"They weren't going to let me let them miss it," dad Kenny Taylor said. The family, including mom, Thai, and Karson, 9, drove up from Toledo.
"Hopefully we'll be back for the championship," Taylor said.
