Detroit Pistons' Baynes boosted by facing Dellavedova and Cavaliers

Detroit Pistons' centre Aron Baynes has no doubt his side can battle with the best and when the NBA play-offs start they will get the chance to prove it.

Detroit Pistons' Aron Baynes (right). Photo: John Raoux

The 29-year-old Cairns native was signed by the Pistons as a free agent after proving himself as an NBA-capable centre and winning a championship during his three seasons with the San Antonio Spurs.

Baynes as signed by coach Stan Van Gundy to provide steady support for star centre Andre Drummond and also bring some of the lessons he learned while playing with Spurs' legends Tim Duncan and coach Gregg Popovich.

The Pistons had to fight their way into the eighth and final play-off spot in the Eastern conference where they will face Lebron James and the Cleveland Cavaliers who remain the favourites to win the conference and play for the NBA championship.

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The Pistons and Cavs series tips off in Cleveland on Monday morning at 5am.

"They have proven they were the best team in the east over the course of the year," Baynes said on Friday morning.

"I think we proved we can play with the best teams when we come out with the right mentality."

Baynes will also face his good mate and fellow Australian Matthew Dellavedova who helped the Pistons big man impress NBA scouts at the London Olympics by setting him up for numerous alley-oop dunks.

During the NBA season, Dellavedova does the same thing for Cavs forwards like Tristan Thompson and James so now Baynes will have to try and disrupt those players.

"We are looking forward to the challenge and it will be fun to go out against Delly," Baynes said.

"I'll definitely have some screens ready for him and I'm sure he has some things ready for me as well - we are looking forward to it and it's always good to be on the same court as a fellow Aussie.

"Hopefully it makes for extra competition between us."

Van Gundy has made dramatic changes to the Pistons roster both during the off-season and this campaign, bringing in stars like Reggie Jackson, Tobias Harris and Marcus Morris while also signing veterans like Baynes, Steve Blake and Anthony Tolliver to harden up the bench.

"It was one of the reasons I wanted to come here with what I saw in the direction the club was turning in," Baynes said.

"I had more of a role here than I had in San Antonio and I've looked to make the most of it whether being vocal on the court or doing something extra off the court.

"It seems to be paying off right now and we are trying to take full advantage of it and keep going."

While Drummond leads the NBA in rebounding and is among the most athletic big men, his foul shooting is below par and regularly sees teams foul him to reduce the Pistons' scoring chances.

This sees Baynes enter the game and he showed his worth knocking down 10 from 10 free throws in the Pistons' win over Washington Wizards recently which clinched their first play-off appearance in seven years.

"It was one of the things Stan [Van Gundy] wanted me here for," Baynes said.

"I had a bit of spell there after the all-star break where my free throws were pretty off but over the last couple of months I've gone back to basics and doing what got me here.

"It was good to see them go down though."

While most of the Cavs' squad still have bitter memories of last year's NBA finals loss to Golden State Warriors, the Pistons only have a limited amount of play-off experience but Baynes still backs his side to take it to their opponents.

"The last month has prepared us pretty well, we have been in some must-win games and been fighting to be in the play-offs," Baynes said.

"It's the best sort of preparation for the play-offs."

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