The Detroit Pistons did plenty last season to earn a better look from the NBA, and the upcoming schedule release will say a lot about whether the league noticed.
After jumping to 60 wins and finishing first in the Eastern Conference, Detroit ought to be in line for more national exposure. That was true even before you factor in how entertaining this team was, night after night. But if last season was any indication, the Pistons may still get treated like an afterthought.
A year ago, Detroit’s rise to 44 wins came with 16 nationally televised games. Even that number comes with a catch, since not all of those appearances were on what would really feel like a true national network. Only two were on an actual national channel, and the Pistons were also left off the Christmas Day slate again.
That snub stood out even more because Detroit’s playoff series against the Knicks was so compelling that plenty of people expected it to help land them on the league’s marquee holiday showcase. Instead, they were left waiting.
What makes the case for the Pistons even stronger is how they played. Over the last two seasons, they’ve been one of the league’s most unpredictable and entertaining teams. “Average” Pistons game became a joke last season, because nearly half of their games were decided by five points or fewer and most of them were anything but routine.
They also have the kind of centerpiece the league usually says it wants to spotlight. Cade Cunningham is a first-team All-NBA player, and Detroit’s supporting cast includes a couple of elite athletes who can race end to end. Even with a defense-first identity, the Pistons were fun to watch, which is why League Pass viewers who bought in were rewarded.
The league also likes to talk about teams that play hard and don’t flop, and Detroit fits that bill. With an “ethical” superstar leading the way, the Pistons check a lot of boxes the NBA claims to value. That should mean more national games and, maybe for the first time since 2005, a return to Christmas Day.
Detroit has been on Christmas Day 32 times, but not since 2005. There was a time when the Pistons were a fixture there, helped by rivalries that drew real attention. Then came years of losing, and the franchise seemed to fade from that stage in everyone’s memory.
Last season should have changed that, but there’s no guarantee it will.
The problem for Detroit is the crowded field ahead of it. LeBron is locked in for Christmas Day, as he has been every year of his career, which makes the 76ers a strong bet too, likely against either the Celtics or Knicks. If it ends up being 76ers-Celtics, the Pistons could have a shot at sneaking in against the Knicks, a matchup many wanted to see last season.
The league also figures to make room for Giannis and his new look Miami Heat, while the Western Conference will bring even more teams into the mix. The top four teams from last year are expected to get serious consideration, and the Timberwolves, now with LaMelo Ball, are also in the conversation.
Detroit has work to do to break through that crowd. Still, after the season the Pistons just put together, it would be hard to argue they didn’t deserve a bigger stage.
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Pistons May Have A Cheaper Center Plan Than Fans Expected
Detroits search for a workable answer in the middle may not require a blockbuster after all. The Pistons are reportedly considering Daniel Gafford as a trade target from Dallas, a familiar kind of sturdy role player who could fit a need without forcing the franchise into a major financial commitment. For a team trying to balance present-day structure with future flexibility, that kind of option can matter just as much as a bigger name.
The appeal is obvious because the alternative could get expensive in a hurry. Jalen Duren remains the more prominent long-term piece, but the Pistons are said to be dealing with a situation where he is not inclined to take a discounted deal, which makes a lower-cost center look increasingly practical. Dallas has reasons to listen too, with a crowded frontcourt and a rebuilding direction that could make the move worthwhile for them if Detroit decides to push forward. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Fans Can't Ignore What This Viral Tryout Clip Says
A new wave of attention has landed on the Motor City Cruise, and it comes from the kind of place basketball fans love to click on: open tryouts. A video from the Pistons G League affiliates session has spread online, capturing the messy, competitive reality of a day when hopeful players are trying to stand out in front of evaluators and earn a look at the next level. For Detroit, it is another reminder that the path into the organization can still run through an unconventional proving ground.
The Cruise will hold the next tryout on Sept. 13 at the Henry Ford Performance Center, with a $250 non-refundable fee attached to the opportunity. For everyone who signs up, the payoff is simple but hardly easy: a chance to compete for a camp invite and keep a long-running tryout tradition alive. The viral clip may have leaned funny, but the bigger story is the same one that always hangs over these events - somebody is going to emerge from the crowd and make the most of a rare opening. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Face Two Massive Pressure Points In The Race To Catch Up
The path for Detroit keeps getting steeper as the East shifts around it. Other contenders spent the offseason raising their ceilings, and the Pistons now find themselves trying to keep pace in a conference that looks much less forgiving than it did a year ago. Even with the fourth-best title odds, the bigger question remains how the roster will support Cade Cunningham as the team tries to climb from promising to dangerous.
Jalen Duren adds another layer of pressure to the picture. The centers contract situation is unresolved, and his postseason left plenty of room for concern, which makes the timing especially tricky for a team already searching for more top-end help. For the Pistons, the next step is not just about staying relevant in the race, but about answering two foundational questions that could shape the direction of the roster well beyond this season. [Read more 🡒]