3 keys to the Detroit Pistons securing a spot in the Play-In Tournament
1. Learning how to hold on to a lead
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Pistons coach Dwayne Casey said at one point during last season that the team needed to learn how to maintain a lead. The veteran coach also mentioned how the team had not spent much time with leads in games, alluding to their record on the season, which ultimately ended up 23-59 for the season. As a young team made up of players mostly on rookie contracts in the NBA, learning to maintain a lead in the league is something that will come with experience.
Heading into the season, Detroit is striving to be more competitive in the standings and hold onto leads when they can get them. Although not an easy task in the NBA, it will be crucial for the Pistons if they want to find themselves back in the postseason for the first time since the 2019 season.
2. Young player development across the board
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The Pistons are a young team with a few veterans sprinkled on the roster, so there will surely be some growing pains for this young group. However, the key for Detroit for this season and for years to come is to develop their young core, which on paper looks like it could be a force in the Eastern Conference in just a few years.
For now, they are focused on pushing for the play-in tournament, which can happen if they can get the Pistons' young "Big Three" of Cade Cunningham, Jaden Ivey, and Saddiq Bey to continue to take the necessary steps forward in their development. Then you get to the guys like Killian Hayes, Isaiah Stewart, and Jalen Duren. All three of these guys are 21 years old or younger and are trying to find a role within this Pistons team and the NBA.
It is a big year for both Stewart and Hayes, as they both head into Year Three, still looking to find that role. Other notable names in this conversation include Marvin Bagley III and Isaiah Livers. They both could be X-factors for this Pistons team moving forward.
It will take a team effort for the Pistons to accomplish their goal of reaching the play-in tournament. Each of these guys will have to continue to improve their game as Detroit heads into a big year in their restoration process.
3) Figuring out the frontcourt
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The Pistons have a handful of formidable big men on their roster. Figuring out the best rotations to use and which players fit and perform well with one another will be big for the Pistons this season. They were able to secure another core piece to their rebuild this past June in the NBA draft when they swung a deal to grab Duren out of Memphis with the 13th overall pick.
Detroit also re-signed Marvin Bagley III to a three-year, $37.5 million contract this offseason and brought in Bojan Bogdanovic and Nerlens Noel in a series of trades. In addition, Stewart will also be a big piece in the rotation entering his third year. However, despite the Pistons having a nice mix of guys in the front court with various abilities, the focus will be on finding out who plays the best in the starting unit with Cunningham.
All eyes will be on Duren this season to see how long it takes the 18-year-old to play his way into big minutes for Detroit. He could be in a limited role to start the season, and as noted, they have depth in the frontcourt. Still, Duren should eventually play his way into the rotation at some point this year, even if he is not a part of it to start the season.
