PODCAST:
Mary 7, 2026 ~ Mark Hollis and Lloyd Jackson host Arn Tellem, Detroit Pistons vice chairman. They discuss the Pistons’ playoff run and the impact of the WNBA team in Detroit.
DETROIT ~ Little Caesars Arena is expected to be loud again Thursday night as the Detroit Pistons host the Cleveland Cavaliers in Game 2 of their Eastern Conference playoff series.
The Pistons enter with momentum following a hard-fought Game 1 win and growing confidence from a young roster already tested on the postseason stage. That confidence was expressed on ‘JR Morning’ Thursday, where leaders from both organizations and a Detroit broadcaster joined hosts Lloyd Jackson and special guest Mark Hollis ahead of the matchup.
PODCASTS:
May 7, 2026 ~ Mark Hollis and Lloyd Jackson welcome Nic Barlage, CEO of Rock Entertainment Group, to the show. They discuss the Cavs-Pistons series and Rock Entertainment Group’s new Detroit venue.
May 7, 2026 ~ Mark Hollis and Lloyd Jackson welcomed sports personality Johnny Kane. They discussed the Detroit Tigers’ recent series loss, injuries, and upcoming games, along with the Pistons.
(CONTINUED) Pistons Vice Chairman Arn Tellem told the show that the team’s recent playoff experiences have accelerated its maturity.
“Playoff basketball is a lot different than the regular season. We have a very young team, and it is part of the growth process,” he said. “They now draw on those moments to know they can handle adversity and overcome it.”
Tellem added that the group’s bond has been a difference-maker, calling it “the most connected group of players I’ve ever been around.”
Cavaliers CEO Nic Barlage described the matchup as a natural rivalry shaped by geography and fan passion.
“It’s the Lake Erie series,” Barlage said. “The proximity of the fanbases, the similarities of the DNA of the people that make up these great cities — it creates a myriad of storylines.”
Barlage noted that Detroit and Cleveland are two of the eight teams still playing, calling it “wonderful to have two of those teams be right here in the Midwest.”
Detroit SportsNet broadcaster Johnny Kane said the Pistons can build on what they established in Game 1, particularly with continued strong play from the core group.
“I thought it was a statement game in Game 1,” Kane said during his appearance on the show. “I see no reason to believe guys like Cade Cunningham and Tobias Harris aren’t going to have a big night tonight.”
Kane also pointed to the opportunity inside, adding, “Let’s get a big game from Jalen Duren tonight and go up two-nothing.”
Game 2 tips off at 7 p.m. Thursday at Little Caesars Arena. The matchup will be streamed nationally on Amazon Prime Video, available to Prime subscribers.
