Where will the Detroit Pistons rank at seasons end?

The Detroit Pistons are 5-1 in the Blake Griffin era. However, because of a rough patch of play prior to the trade, including an eight game losing streak, will the Pistons be able to make a run and make the playoffs? If so, how far up can they go in the playoff standings?

The Detroit Pistons have been very good in the Blake Griffin era. In fact, short of one really bad quarter, the Pistons likely would be 6-0 since trading for Griffin.

Considering how well the Pistons have played, for the most part, since trading for Griffin, that made me wonder, where will the Pistons rank at the end of the season?

My take?

The Pistons are currently 1.5 games back from the Philadelphia 76ers for the eighth seed in the Eastern Conference. The team is also two games back from the Miami Heat for the seventh seed, three games back from the Indiana Pacers for the sixth seed, 3.5 games back from the Milwaukee Bucks fifth seed, and four and five games back from the fourth and third seed.

All that to say, the Pistons have a realistic shot to end up anywhere between third and ninth in the Eastern Conference considering how each of those teams have played.

In the end, I could see the Pistons finishing around the sixth seed to close out the season ahead of two of the Miami Heat, Philadelphia 76ers, and Indiana Pacers.

If the season were to end today, and if the Pistons were at the six seed, that would put the team against the Cleveland Cavaliers.

Not exactly the best match up considering how much better LeBron James is in the playoffs.

That said, short of playing the Cavaliers (and even then, it is still to be determined as to how much the team will improve with all the trades it has made) I think the Pistons can hang with any other team, if it can just get into the big dance.

Next: Pistons Playbook: Blake Griffin and Spacing

That’s my take, what’s yours?