How Detroit Pistons’ offseason compares to the Eastern Conference elite

The Detroit Pistons look to improve on a 41-41 season that landed them the eight seed in the Eastern Conference. Here’s how they stack up against the elite.

The Detroit Pistons appear to be all-in on getting back to the postseason and improving on last year’s first round exit.

And while the offseason moves have pushed Detroit in the right direction, it could be what the rest of the East did – or didn’t do – that gives the Pistons their best shot since 2008 to make a deep playoff run.

The East was wide open last year and the Milwaukee Bucks, Philadelphia 76ers, Toronto Raptors and Boston Celtics all seemed like, at one point or another, a threat to make it out of the East. That’s no knock on the Pacers – who scrapped all year long despite losing Victor Oladipo – but they never seemed like a serious threat to the Eastern Conference elite.

With that being said, I will use this piece to explore how the top four teams in the East took a step back this offseason and how that gives a glimmer of hope to teams who are in no man’s land between tanking and contention.

Before I go any further, I want to clarify: I don’t think the Pistons are title contenders. They are however playoff contenders, and when you are eyeing the postseason there is always a chance that an injury, trade, or a player making an unexpected leap could thrust you into a different set of postseason realities.

So let’s look at last year’s upper echelon of the Eastern Conference and see how their roster’s took a step back.