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What are realistic expectations for Detroit Pistons?

By Braden Shackelford

AUBURN HILLS, MI - APRIL 24: A general view before Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons during the 2016 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2016 at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan. 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 2016 NBAE (Photo by Allen Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images)
AUBURN HILLS, MI - APRIL 24: A general view before Game Four of the Eastern Conference Quarterfinals between the Cleveland Cavaliers and Detroit Pistons during the 2016 NBA Playoffs on April 24, 2016 at The Palace of Auburn Hills in Auburn Hills, Michigan. 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 2016 NBAE (Photo by Allen Einstein/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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The Detroit Pistons have only gotten better this offseason. The Eastern Conference has only gotten worse. So what does that mean for expectations this season? Should we be excited, or should expectations still be tempered?

The Detroit Pistons should feel very good about its playoff chances in 2017-18. It’s not that the team is markedly better from a season ago, but that the Eastern Conference has taken such a nose-dive in terms of talent.

Check out the players who have moved from the Eastern Conference to the Western Conference:

Paul George (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Jimmy Butler (Minnesota Timberwolves)
Carmelo Anthony (Oklahoma City Thunder)
Paul Millsap (Denver Nuggets)

Those aren’t just anybody’s. These are key stone players to their former squads. Their departures almost assures a plummet into mediocrity for the Indiana Pacers, Chicago Bulls, New York Knicks, and Atlanta Hawks.

But while four teams got weaker–and the Pistons got better–there still remains a few teams that should be as good or better than they were last season in the Eastern Conference.

These are those teams:

Toronto Raptors
Cleveland Cavaliers
Boston Celtics
Washington Wizards
Milwaukee Bucks
Charlotte Hornets

Sure, you can argue Cleveland will be worse, but last I checked, they still have LeBron James. That’s good enough for an Eastern Conference finals appearance any year.

And herein lies the point, while the East is weaker, it is still top heavy. Realistically, the Pistons still have no chance of matching up with the top teams in the East.

Can the Pistons, at its best, beat the Cavaliers or Celtics? No, I don’t think so. How about the Raptors or Wizards? I have my reservations. And the Bucks and Hornets? That’s at best a toss up.

So to directly answer the question, expectations should be tempered. The Pistons will be a playoff team in 2017-18. However, they will likely be a lower seeded team that faces an uphill battle to enter into the second round.

Next: Who’s the most important Piston entering 2017?

I think there’s a scenario that sees the Pistons land into the top-four in the East, but by no means is that the expectation.

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