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Five under-the-radar Pistons games to watch this season

By Matthew Way

JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - AUGUST 2: Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers and Andre Drummond of the Detroit takes part in the Jr. NBA Special Olympics clinic as part of Basketball Without Borders Africa at the American International School of Johannesburg on August 2, 2017 in Gauteng province of Johannesburg, South Africa. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images)
JOHANNESBURG, SOUTH AFRICA - AUGUST 2: Joel Embiid of the Philadelphia 76ers and Andre Drummond of the Detroit takes part in the Jr. NBA Special Olympics clinic as part of Basketball Without Borders Africa at the American International School of Johannesburg on August 2, 2017 in Gauteng province of Johannesburg, South Africa. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and or using this photograph, User is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2017 NBAE (Photo by Nathaniel S. Butler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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As a team projected to be a fringe playoff contender, every game will be critical for the Detroit Pistons in the 2017-18 season.  We take a look at five important games that could, but shouldn’t, fly under the radar.

October 23 – Detroit Pistons vs. Philadelphia 76ers

In the fourth game of the season, the upstart Philadelphia 76ers come to Little Caesars Arena. Philadelphia projects to be one of the teams that the Detroit Pistons will be competing for a playoff spot with, and this early game could set a tone for the season to come.

In the broader scheme, this game comes right before a critical early stretch for the Pistons.  Two nights later, the Pistons host the talented Minnesota Timberwolves and then head out west for a tough three game stretch through California.  A win against the 76ers could bring some much-needed confidence to the Pistons before their first really tough stretch of the season.

December 6 – vs. Milwaukee Bucks

Two months into the season, we’ll begin to see just how well Reggie Jackson‘s knee is holding up.  The Milwaukee Bucks’ defense will be a great test to see where Jackson is going to be this season.

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The Bucks’ length and athleticism is going to require Jackson to use the athleticism we saw in 2015-16 to get to the paint and create shots for himself and his teammates.  If he’s able to do that against the long Bucks defense two months into the season, it will be a good sign of things to come for the Pistons.

January 3 – vs. Miami Heat

January 3rd marks the first game of a three games in four nights stretch for the Pistons.  The Miami Heat are going to be one of the teams that Detroit will be fighting with for a playoff spot, and every game against those teams will be important.

Coming at home, this is the type of game that the Pistons are going to need to win in order to make the playoffs.  Andre Drummond has performed extremely well against Hassan Whiteside the past couple years, and he’ll need to repeat those strong performances to lead the Pistons into the playoffs.

February 25 – vs. Charlotte Hornets

The Pistons’ February 25th game against the Charlotte Hornets is another game against a fringe Eastern Conference playoff team that becomes very important when looking at the schedule.

The Hornets game is sandwiched between games against Toronto and Boston, and the Pistons will not be able to afford many 3+ game losing streaks if they hope to make the playoffs in their first season in the new arena.  The Pistons will look to continue their strong play against the Hornets, having won three of the four games the two teams played last season.

Next: How the Miami Heat match up with the Pistons

March 19 – at Sacramento Kings

With the season winding down, the Pistons face a brutal six game road stretch out West.

The Kings game falls in the middle of that stretch, being the first of a back-to-back against the Kings and Suns.  If the Pistons are going to have any success during that road trip, they’ll need to beat the Kings and Suns.  Setting the tone against the lowly Kings in that first game will be key.  The Pistons may have a little extra motivation, as Langston Galloway and Anthony Tolliver visit their former teams.

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