The Detroit Pistons are sitting pretty as the All-Star break wraps up, boasting the league’s best record at 40-13 and holding a firm grip on the top seed in the Eastern Conference. It’s been a season of statement wins and serious growth, but as every contender knows, the regular season is only part of the journey. The playoffs are a different beast-and the Pistons still have a few key questions to answer if they want to turn this dominant campaign into a deep postseason run.
Can Detroit Find More Shooting?
Let’s start with the most pressing concern: three-point shooting. Despite their success, the Pistons rank near the bottom of the league in made threes per game.
That’s not just a stat-it’s a potential playoff problem. In today’s NBA, spacing is everything, and Detroit’s offense could face serious challenges if defenses can sag off shooters and load up on Cade Cunningham.
Losing Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr. in the offseason stripped the roster of proven perimeter threats. Duncan Robinson has stepped in admirably, stretching the floor and giving the offense some much-needed breathing room.
But one shooter isn’t enough. The Pistons need more consistent production from the supporting cast-especially from guys like Tobias Harris, Daniss Jenkins, and Kevin Huerter.
If those names can knock down shots with regularity, Detroit’s offense becomes a lot tougher to guard.
Can They Stay Healthy When It Counts?
Last year’s playoff exit still stings-and for good reason. The Pistons went toe-to-toe with the Knicks but were without Jaden Ivey for the entire series and lost Isaiah Stewart for most of it. In a postseason defined by matchups and momentum, missing key pieces can be the difference between advancing and heading home.
This season, injuries have been more frequent, but the team has managed to stay afloat thanks to its depth and resilience. That’s a testament to the coaching staff and the roster’s next-man-up mentality.
Still, the postseason is a different animal. The margin for error shrinks, and Detroit will need its full complement of players to make a serious push.
With their physical, high-energy style of play, staying healthy will be both a challenge and a necessity.
Who’s the Secondary Playmaker?
Cade Cunningham has been everything the Pistons could ask for and more. He’s taken the leap as a franchise cornerstone, running the offense with poise, scoring at all three levels, and making his teammates better. But even stars need a break-and that’s where the Pistons need someone else to step up.
The playoffs demand multiple ball handlers who can create, especially when defenses start throwing traps and double teams at the primary initiator. Daniss Jenkins is the name to watch here.
He’s shown flashes of being able to handle the ball and make plays, but consistency will be key. If Jenkins-or someone else-can give Detroit solid minutes as a secondary creator, it’ll take a huge load off Cade and keep the offense humming when he’s off the floor.
Will the Rotation Tighten Up?
One of Detroit’s biggest strengths this season has been its depth. They’ve comfortably gone 10-12 players deep on a nightly basis, and that’s helped them navigate injuries and keep legs fresh.
But the playoffs are a different story. Rotations shrink.
Coaches lean on their best seven or eight guys, and every minute on the court becomes more valuable.
That leaves a big question: how will the Pistons manage their bench? Some of their second-unit players bring relentless energy on defense but aren’t threats to score.
That’s fine in the regular season, but in the playoffs-where every possession matters-those offensive limitations could become liabilities. The coaching staff will have to strike a careful balance between maintaining their defensive identity and ensuring they have enough firepower to keep up with elite offenses.
Bottom Line: The Pistons are in a fantastic spot right now. They’ve built a winning formula rooted in defense, ball movement, and a rising star in Cade Cunningham.
But the postseason will test them in new ways. Can they shoot well enough to space the floor?
Will they stay healthy when the games matter most? Who steps up when Cade sits?
And how deep can they really go in a playoff rotation?
Answer those questions, and Detroit could be looking at more than just a strong regular season-they could be on the verge of something special.