The Detroit Pistons are 5-1, and the first thing that jumps off the page isn’t the revamped offense. It’s the defense that keeps bailing them out.
Detroit has opened the season with the NBA’s best defense, posting a 103.2 rating through six games. That mark sits more than a point ahead of second-place Memphis, and it’s come even with Ausar Thompson missing 1.5 of those games and Jalen Duren sidelined for most of the 5-1 start.
That kind of production has given the Pistons a real cushion while the offense works through the early-season mess. The new-look attack has been taking more 3-pointers and moving the ball better, but the results haven’t really improved. In fact, Detroit’s offense has been about the same, or worse, than last season, and the Pistons are sitting in the bottom half of the league in offensive rating.
There are reasons for the uneven start. The schedule has been tough, injuries have already piled up, and the team is still figuring out how to fit new pieces into the rotation. Early offensive growing pains aren’t exactly a surprise.
Still, the numbers are telling. Detroit is 17th in offensive rating after finishing 10th last season, and the pace hasn’t matched the intent.
The Pistons are trying to play faster, but so far they’re only 26th in pace. When they can’t get out in transition, the half-court offense has struggled to generate much.
Possessions have been a problem too. Detroit is near the bottom of the league there as well, which puts even more weight on a defense that’s already carrying a huge load.
What’s made the defense so effective is the depth of buy-in. John Collins, in particular, has embraced JB Bickerstaff’s defensive approach, and the Pistons keep throwing different waves of defenders at opponents. When Thompson sits, Detroit can turn to Javonte Green and Ron Holland, both of whom were among the leaders in bench steals last season.
The Pistons are still doing the hard stuff well on that end. They’ve been one of the league’s best teams at protecting the paint and forcing tougher contested jumpers.
There are cracks, though. Detroit has given up too many offensive rebounds, and some of that can be tied to Duren’s absence. The Pistons have also been vulnerable in transition, allowing too many fast-break points off turnovers.
Even with those issues, the defense has been elite. The question now is whether the offense can catch up before the burden on that side becomes too much to carry.
In Other News...
Pistons Fans May Be Overstating The Jaden Ivey Trade Regret
The Jaden Ivey trade has become one of those moves that gets revisited every time the Pistons look like they might have given up on a young guard too soon. But the full picture is a little less dramatic than the regret narrative suggests. Detroit did not walk away empty-handed, getting Kevin Huerter as a rotation piece and a pick swap that later helped the team land rookie Ebuka Okorie.
Iveys own path since the deal has not exactly made the second-guessing easier, either, with injuries and uneven play complicating the conversation around his value. Still, when the pieces are laid out together, the trade looks more like a measured roster move than a front-office blunder, and it may have helped Detroit more than the other teams involved. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Trade Watch Is Starting To Focus On A Two-Way Fit
As the trade deadline gets closer, the Pistons are being mentioned more often as a team that could look for a modest upgrade rather than a splashy swing. One name that fits that approach is Derrick Jones Jr., whose combination of three-point shooting and defensive versatility would give Detroit another useful wing option without forcing a major roster overhaul. His current contract also makes the fit easier to imagine, especially for a front office that has kept one eye on flexibility while leaning heavily on internal development.
Detroits recent roster moves have pointed in that same direction, with the organization showing a preference for patience and incremental improvement over a dramatic deadline reset. Jones stands out because he checks more than one box for a team trying to sharpen its rotation, and his salary could be workable through a trade exception if the Pistons decide to pursue him. The bigger question is whether Detroit wants to use one of its limited chances to add a proven two-way piece now, or keep waiting for the young core to take the next step on its own. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Are Learning What Paul Reed Gives Them That Duren Doesn't
Jalen Durens hamstring injury has forced the Pistons to lean on Paul Reed for the next several weeks, and the early returns have shown why the front office wanted another big man with a different skill set. Reed has stepped into a larger role and brought more offensive versatility to the lineup, including the kind of three-point shooting Duren does not provide, while also giving Detroit solid production in the minutes he has picked up.
Still, the contrast between the two centers has been hard to miss. Reed can help stretch the floor and add some passing, but the Pistons lose Durens efficient work around the rim and the rebounding presence that has made him so valuable. For a team trying to stay balanced, this stretch is a reminder that Detroit looks best when both bigs are available and can complement each other instead of forcing the choice. [Read more 🡒]