Pistons basketball is back, ushering in a new era for Detroit. It’s been two years since the Pistons were the worst in the league. Last year, we saw a major change in the Pistons, going from being the worst team to making the playoffs. All of this happened when the Pistons hired JB Bickerstaff to become the coach. We saw changes immediately with the lineup and players finally being played to their strengths. After the quick turnaround, we saw the improvements last year; this year should be that much better. There have been some great additions to the team this year, including Duncan Robinson, rookie Chaz Lanier, and Caris LeVert.
The Pistons are doing a great job of trying to build a team around their young star Cade Cunningham. They don’t need to make a team of superstars, but they need to build a team based on compatibility for working together. The more cohesive they are, the better they play. We saw a lot of evidence of this last year, with the team seemingly very close and knowing how to work with and around each other. The Pistons signed veteran Caris LeVert from free agency, and acquired Duncan Robinson from a sign-and-trade with Miami for Simone Fontecchio. They arrived following the departure of guards Tim Hardaway Jr., Dennis Schroeder, and Malik Beasley. Robinson is known for being a strong 3-point shooter, which will be key with Beasley not being re-signed. Robinson’s career 3-point percentage is 39.7%. LeVert, a player who has developed into a great playmaker, finds shots from anywhere. This will be important for the Pistons to have a strong playmaker to come off the bench. Another noticeable addition is the Pistons’ draft pick Chaz Lanier from the University of Tennessee, a shooting guard also known for his 3-point making ability, which we have seen in the past has been extremely important for the Pistons’ winning ability.
Fans are excited about Jaden Ivey’s healthy return to the team, especially after seeing his great performances last season cut short due to injury. His return takes away some of that playmaking pressure on Cunningham. Ivey can also be a great initiator and decision maker in plays, adding to the strength of the team this season. Another young player, Ausar Thompson, last season showcased his ability as an aggressive defender and a fantastic offensive finisher. He offers so much with his versatility defensively and offensively, and has become a vital forward for this team. Jalen Duren, the starting center, is a major part of the Pistons’ defensive skill, consistently working well with Thompson. This year is key for his development and the development of the team, with this year being the last year of his rookie contract. This season will determine if he will be a cornerstone within the Pistons’ future. Tobias Harris rejoined the Pistons last season and was the perfect veteran for this team, providing leadership to young players on and off the court. This season, he will be back to provide that same energy. Ron Holland, another young player, is following his promising first season and a great summer league performance, showcasing his increased shooting ability and playmaking abilities. He could become a more prominent member of the Pistons this season, with many veterans not being re-signed, building on his strength as a high-energy defender. The team has a great group of young players and many veterans who are returning and have been recently signed.
The expectations for the Pistons this year are to see them rise to a higher seed in the playoffs, especially with critical injuries in their conference from the Indiana Pacers and Boston Celtics, allowing the Pistons to step up to that higher position and hopefully achieve a playoff series win at Little Caesars Arena. This could be the time to cement themselves as a competitive contender in the NBA. This young, rising team has continued to demonstrate perseverance and hard work, showing steady progress that could generate optimism for the future. It’s time to see Detroit get back to work.
