JB Bickerstaff was good enough.
The Detroit Pistons head coach handed a whopping five technical fouls in the third quarter and headed out to referee after the team lost 113-107 to the West's leading Oklahoma City Thunder on Saturday.
Two of them were given to Star Guard Cade Cunningham, who was kicked out after an extended discussion with staff of less than 48 seconds in the quarter.
“I'm tired of the way the game was hosted,” Bickerstaff said. “The level of disrespect was greater. [The Thunder] Have the man beaten and travel to your teammate's feet and review us for hostile acts. They throw their elbows into our chest and neck area, I ask them to at least see [a replay]Show respect to see it. …No one sees that.
“The disrespect has gone well enough and I don't intend to allow him to be treated like it was tonight.”
Crew member Brian Forte explained why Cunningham was kicked out.
“Cunningham was given his first technical foul to deal with the staff in blasphemy,” Forte told reporters Pool after the match. “After the first technical free throw was shot, Cade continued to use his blasphemy towards officials, receiving his second technical foul and being kicked out.”
Bickerstaff received one of five technicals. Everything scored lightning points as Shai Gegeous-Alexander went 5-5 on a technical free throw.
“I coach the ass in a passionate way. I'm into the game, our players are into the game. We understand that. But we're competing for the tails and bringing something positive to this league, so we deserve a level of respect. We're developing young players, and the younger players are competing for the tails. All they can do is to get the same respect that everyone else in this league gets and umpires just as everyone else in this league is reported,” Bickerstaff said as he slams the table.
“All is enough. And I disliked what you saw tonight. It was a disgusting display of disrespect for our peers and what we were trying to do.”
Bickerstaff then crumpled the paper, threw it, then stood up and left the room.
The 46-year-old is in his first season as the Pistons head coach after being fired by the Cavaliers following his second playoff exit last May.
37-31, Detroit has already won the most games in the season since 2018-19, and it was the last time they made the playoffs. They were swept by the Bucks in the first round after finishing season 41-41.
The Pistons currently own the No. 6 seed in the East and will place them on the collision course with the Knicks in the first round. They are the game behind the Pacers in the fifth and behind the Bucks in the fourth.
