What needs to happen for the Pistons to make the play-in.
Photo Credit: Brian Bradshaw Sevald - USA TODAY Sports
Detroit, MI (PSF) - Coming off an off-season where the Pistons were able to secure one of the top head coaches in the NBA when they were able to get coach Monty Williams to sign in Detroit with a lucrative 8 year 100 million dollar deal, of course expectations of around the team are growing as well. The Pistons have been stuck in rebuild mode (again) for a few years now but there appears to finally be light coming at the end of the tunnel perhaps. When you get a coach the caliber of Monty Williams, with his track record specifically around leading a young Phoenix Suns team to a perennial contender naturally it raises some expectations. Detroit is hoping that Williams proves to be the right voice this very young Pistons roster needs in the locker room.
The Pistons had a forgettable season in 22-23, winning just 17 games and then fell to the number fifth pick in the NBA draft lottery. Still, there is plenty of hope around this young team and there were some bright spots in an otherwise forgettable year. Rookies Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren both were extremely impressive in their rookie campaigns, and have cemented themselves as franchise cornerstones along side former number 1 pick Cade Cunningham.
Cunningham was injured most of his second NBA season after requiring season ending surgery on his shin after appearing in just 12 games. As a result, last year was kind of a wasted year in a sense for Detroit. Cunningham is such a integral part of this roster and what they are trying to build in Detroit, the Pistons love what they seen from their rookies last year but now the focus is going to be shifting to see how they are able to fit next to and play along side Cunningham.
The Pistons have a roster that is capable of competing for a Play-In spot this season, and there are a few things that need to happen in their favor to make this happen. Let’s start with the former #1 pick. The health of Cunningham this season is what will steer the Win/Loss record for Detroit and determine how successful of a season this can be. Health provided, Cunningham should undoubtedly help the Pistons win more games than last season, with the help of a few more factors Detroit can make a push push for the play-in.
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Jalen Duren and Jaden Ivey will be crucial this season, as all eyes will be on how well the two mesh with Cunningham on offense. Duren has the potential to be the pick and roll partner and lob threat that Cunningham has been needing so badly since he arrived in Detroit. We have heard rumblings from the team USA camp that Duren and Cunningham were already showing a chemistry together and overall impressing at camp together.
Meanwhile it will be very interesting to see Ivey alongside Cunningham. Last season we got to see Ivey have free rein in the offense where he was the facilitator who ran the offense with Cunningham on the sidelines, now he will have to shift to playing more off the ball than last season. Ivey’s three point shooting ability came a long way over the course of last season, and in the second half he was shooting at a respectable percentage from deep which should be a decent indication that he’ll be okay playing off the ball. There really isn’t anything to say Ivey and Cunningham do not have the makings of an elite NBA backcourt one day, but for now the focus will be on learning how to play together and actually putting it all together and stacking some wins.
The health of Cade Cunningham, and the continued development of last years rookies, as well as this years number five overall pick Asuar Thompson are the major factors in not just the Pistons push for the play-in this season, but for the Pistons push back to NBA relevancy going forward. Detroit and GM Troy Weaver seem to have been able to put together one of the better young cores around the league, that also features some nice veterans now with an elite coach roaming the sidelines. It is now time for the Pistons to put it all together on the floor and start winning some basketball games.
