The Pistons have put themselves in a strong spot early, but the next step is bigger than a good start. Detroit is sitting in the third seed in the East after ten games, yet there are still a few loose ends that have to get tied down before anyone can call this team a real favorite.
The record has come with some uneven results against quality opponents. Detroit fell to the Knicks 111-97, the 76ers 112-106, and the Luka-less Lakers 121-116.
Then the Pistons bounced back with a 122-111 win over the Wizards, a game that featured three players scoring at least 20 points. John Collins led the way with 24 points and 10 rebounds.
The biggest name in the room is still Cade Cunningham, and nobody is questioning his star status. The issue is that his production has dipped in a few games, and that matters when Detroit is trying to climb from good to dangerous. He is averaging 22 points, five rebounds, and 7.6 assists this season, but the shooting numbers are the part that stand out: 46.2% from the field and 29.2 percent from three.
His last two outings were quieter than expected. Cunningham finished with 17 points against the Wizards and 14 against the Lakers. That is not a reason to sound the alarm, especially with opposing defenses keying on him, but it does leave room for concern about how steady he has been so far.
Another major piece is Paul Reed, who was forced into a starting role after Jalen Duren’s injury against the Miami Heat. Reed has handled the assignment well.
He is averaging 11 points and seven rebounds while shooting 56.5% from the field. Against Washington, he had just four points, but he still made an impact with 10 rebounds and three blocks.
His value has been clear in the paint, where he has protected the rim and made life difficult for drivers. Detroit will get another look at that area soon, too, with Anthony Davis coming off a 44-point game and the Pistons facing him next.
The final issue is the one that could decide how far this team can go: finding a reliable scoring boost around Cunningham. Collins gave Detroit a big night against Washington, while Duncan Robinson added 22 points and has been hot to start the season. Daniss Jenkins has also shown he can chip in, scoring 22 against the Wizards and 31 against the Lakers.
If one of those players can consistently give Cunningham a second scoring option, Detroit’s offense gets a lot harder to contain. The defense is already the calling card in Detroit. The offense is where the questions still live.
The Pistons head back to Washington for a second straight meeting with the Wizards at 7:00 p.m.
In Other News...
Daniss Jenkins Is Giving The Pistons A Tough New Decision
Daniss Jenkins has turned a strong start into one of the more interesting roster questions facing Detroit. The guard has given the Pistons steady production, averaging 12.7 points, 4.7 assists and 3.6 rebounds while knocking down 43 percent of his 3-point attempts, and that kind of early impact tends to get noticed quickly in a league that is always looking for useful backcourt pieces.
The tricky part is what comes next. Jenkins is headed toward restricted free agency at seasons end, which gives Detroit control, but not necessarily an easy path to keeping him if the market gets involved or the cap picture tightens. The Pistons also have to weigh the progress of rookie Ebuka Okorie and the contract situation of Paul Reed, which means Jenkins rise may be forcing the front office to think several moves ahead. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Already Have One Early Reason To Feel Better About Collins
The Pistons decision to swap Tobias Harris out and John Collins in at power forward already looks easier to understand in early-season context. Harris, now 34, still has not played this season because of a calf strain, and it has only sharpened the questions that were already hanging over his durability as Detroit weighed its options in free agency.
Collins was never just about talent for the Pistons, either. The appeal was always tied to his availability and the flexibility of his contract, even with the age concern that comes with adding another veteran. For a team trying to stabilize that spot, simply having a player on the floor has been a useful early reminder of why Detroit made the move. [Read more 🡒]
Pistons Suddenly Face A Trade Deadline Decision Fans Can't Ignore
Detroits strong 7-3 start has changed the conversation around the franchise in a hurry. With a healthy stash of draft capital and expiring contracts in hand, the Pistons are in position to be more than patient observers ahead of the Feb. 11 trade deadline. They have put themselves in the mix in the Eastern Conference, and the front office now has to weigh whether to keep building organically or use those assets to accelerate the timeline.
The need is fairly clear: secondary scoring and frontcourt depth would both help a team trying to keep pace with Boston and Philadelphia. Names such as John Collins, Duncan Robinson and Naz Reid have already surfaced as possible fits, which tells you the market is starting to take shape around Detroits needs. The bigger question is how aggressive the Pistons want to be, because the right move could help them chase the top of the standings, while the wrong one could cost them the flexibility that got them here. [Read more 🡒]