How to stop Pistons? Make them pay for foul shooting

A weekly look at the teams who may end up being first-round NBA playoff opponents for the Toronto Raptors:

The Detroit Pistons are young and unproven, and the franchise hasn’t been in the NBA playoffs since a first-round sweep at the hands of the Cleveland Cavaliers in the 2008-09 season.

They are not only unaccustomed to the playoffs but to the grind it takes to merely qualify for them. So far, though, they are handling the current chase well.

There have been blips — a ninepoint loss at home to Dallas on Friday night was the latest — but they have responded each time, notably with a vital win in Chicago on Saturday night.

That victory not only kept Detroit right in the race with Indiana for seventh and eighth place but it was a “statement” victory for a young and unproven group.

One of the issues for the Pistons if they do make the playoffs is how much they can count on centre Andre Drummond in any close game.

His skills as a rebounder and a force near the basket are undeniable, but he is a 35-per-cent free-throw shooter and the “Hack-a-Drummond” strategy could be vital.

The Bulls did sporadically on Saturday night and Drummond ended up going an atrocious 1-for-10 from the free-throw line.

It remains to be seen if the Pistons can use these important games down the stretch as a way to get mentally prepared for the intensity of the post-season, but they have to help.

The week ahead for the four teams fighting for the last two NBA Eastern Conference playoff spots (the seventh-place team will likely face Toronto in the first round):

Detroit, 41-36, seventh Tuesday at Miami Wednesday at Orlando Friday vs. Washington

Indiana, 40-36, eighth Saturday at Philadelphia Sunday at New York Wednesday vs. Cleveland Friday at Toronto

Chicago, 38-38, ninth Sunday at Milwaukee Tuesday at Memphis Thursday at Miami

á Washington, 37-39, 10th Sunday at L.A. Clippers Wednesday vs. Brooklyn Friday at Detroit