Detroit Pistons: A way-too-early Eastern Conference playoff prediction
By Travis Gibbs
Looking at the Eastern Conference after a summer full of moves, where do the Detroit Pistons stand in the mix? Could they run the table?
The Detroit Pistons have been just outside of the playoff picture in each of the last two seasons. This coming season could be much different for this team.
The Eastern conference has been shaken up a bit this offseason. LeBron James went west to play for the Los Angeles Lakers. Whether it was Miami or Cleveland, the team he played for competed for an NBA championship in each of the last eight seasons.
With him out of the East, it feels like the conference is wide open for the first time in a long time. Could the Detroit Pistons capitalize on it?
Even without LeBron, there are still some very talented teams that the Pistons will have to deal with on a nightly basis. There is a new star in the Eastern Conference as well.
Where do the Pistons sit in this jumbled mess?
The big boys
There are three teams in the Eastern conference that look to be head and shoulders better than the rest. Let’s look at each team:
Boston Celtics
This had to be the most obvious pick for the best team in the conference. They took James and Cavaliers to seven games in the Eastern Conference finals without their two best players.
Gordon Hayward played less than a quarter with his new team before having a horrific season-ending injury. That speaks to the depth they have on their team.
Brad Stevens is one of the best coaches in the NBA. Kyrie Irving is one of the best point guards in the league as well. Don’t be surprised if they represent the East in the 2019 NBA finals.
Philadelphia 76ers
The Sixers were the most surprising team in the NBA last season. After being a doormat for the better part of five seasons, the ‘process’ has finally paid off.
They’ve developed a dynamic young nucleus consisting of Joel Embiid and Ben Simmons. Philadelphia also has veteran leadership in players like J.J. Redick.
This team is trending in the right direction and could be a serious threat to Boston for the top spot in the East.
Toronto Raptors
The Raptors are probably the second best team in the East. They’ve experienced some turnover after losing head coach Dwane Casey and star guard DeMar DeRozan.
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However, they’ve added Kawhi Leonard, who can be an MVP candidate when he’s playing at the top of his game. They also still have All-Star point guard Kyle Lowry.
This team is still dangerous with the amount of depth they have. Can they get over their playoff hump finally?
The middle of the pack
In no specific order, these teams will sit between the fourth and sixth seeds. With all of these teams coming from the Central division,they’ll see each other quite a bit.
Indiana Pacers
The Pacers nearly took down the Cavaliers in the first round of the playoffs last season. This is a team full of guys that know their role that don’t try to do too much.
Victor Oladipo proved last season he’s going to be one of the East’s best players after having a career season. Myles Turner is a big man that took a step back this season but still has a lot of potential.
Thaddeus Young and Bojan Bogdonavic round out a solid core of talent that Indiana has put together. Look for them to be a solid team next season as well.
Milwaukee Bucks
The Bucks have been a bit of a mystery. They were a team that many thought would take a big leap forward last season. They ended up firing Jason Kidd part way through the season and were bounced in the first round of the playoffs as the seventh seed.
However, they have some fantastic talent on this team. Giannis Antetokounmpo is one of the league’s most electrifying players. Khris Middleton and Eric Bledsoe round out a great core.
After those three, there are some question marks. The Bucks don’t have great depth and that’s been part of their problem over the past two seasons. Will they finally take the next step?
Detroit Pistons
The Pistons are back in the conversation with a healthy roster and superstar Blake Griffin being added into the mix. Just where will they end up in the East?
This team has a lot of potential. Andre Drummond took a big step forward last season. They were one of the better three-point shooting teams in the league last year as well.
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What’s been the biggest question mark with this team is the play at point guard. Can Reggie Jackson stay healthy? His absence seems to be part of the reason for their setback over the last two seasons.
Looking at their bench, there are some question marks as well. Will an unknown player step up this year? Luke Kennard, Khyri Thomas, and Bruce Brown are all young players looking to make a name for themselves. It could just be one of those three.
On the bubble
Two of the three teams mentioned below were in the playoff picture last season. Could they be on the outside looking in this year?
Washington Wizards
It feels like everyone has been waiting on the Wizards to finally be one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference for the past few seasons.
They have one of the best back-courts in the NBA between John Wall and Bradley Beal. Outside of that, there are a lot of question marks as to where they will get production from.
Otto Porter is one of those players that can be a factor for the Wizards next season. Dwight Howard has been added to the mix as well.
Miami Heat
The Heat are one of those tweener teams without a star on their roster. It’s hard to make any kind of run in the playoffs without a guy that can get buckets in crunch time. Until the Heat get one of those players, they’ll continue to be on the bubble of the playoff picture.
Goran Dragic and Dion Waiters can only bring a team so far. Hassan Whiteside has proven to be a big man that can’t adapt to the way the game is changing.
The Heat will be a feisty group that will battle you night in and night out. Just don’t expect much else from this team.
Charlotte Hornets
Kemba Walker is about the only thing keeping Charlotte from being a doormat in the Eastern Conference. He’s been the only consistent player on this team for a while.
You would think that this organization would have found a big name player to bring to Charlotte to play alongside Walker while he still has some tread on the tires.
The Hornets finished ten games under the .500 mark last season. Without LeBron out of the East, they might be able to sneak in as the eighth seed. That’s their ceiling.