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ESPN projects Detroit Pistons as the 8th seed in Eastern Conference

By David Topham

AUBURN HILLS, MI - MARCH 24: Blake Griffin #23 of the Detroit Pistons and Reggie Jackson #1 of the Detroit Pistons high-five before the game against the Chicago Bulls on March 24, 2018 at Little Caesars Arena 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images)
AUBURN HILLS, MI - MARCH 24: Blake Griffin #23 of the Detroit Pistons and Reggie Jackson #1 of the Detroit Pistons high-five before the game against the Chicago Bulls on March 24, 2018 at Little Caesars Arena 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 2018 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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ESPN’s Kevin Pelton recently projected the Detroit Pistons to finish the 2018-2019 NBA season with 39.4 wins, good enough for eighth place in the Eastern Conference.

On Friday, ESPN staff writer Kevin Pelton projected the win total for every NBA team. The Detroit Pistons checked in at 39.4 projected wins, which placed them eighth in the standings in the Eastern Conference.

While Pelton’s outlook is good enough for the final spot in the Eastern Conference playoffs, it’s still unsatisfying. Last season, the Pistons went 39-43 and it was considered an abject failure – and that left them out of the playoffs by a full 4.0 games. In 2016-2017, Detroit finished at an even more disappointing 37-45.

The last time the Pistons sniffed anything close to success was the 2015-2016 season. Detroit went 44-38 and got the eighth seed in the East. They were promptly swept out of the playoffs by Cleveland, but it was still what appeared to be the start of a bright future thanks to young players Andre Drummond, Reggie Jackson, Tobias Harris, Marcus Morris, Kentavious Caldwell-Pope, and Stanley Johnson.

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Since then, it’s been two let-down seasons in a row, both marred by Reggie Jackson injuries. Jackson played 45 games last season as a result of a grade three ankle sprain, and only 52 the year prior due to a knee procedure to deal with tendonitis.

This season, the Pistons benefit from a full offseason with Blake Griffin in tow to highlight alongside Drummond and Jackson, and a coaching change. A different dynamic will be driving the team following the insertion NBA Coach of the Year Dwane Casey at the helm instead of Stan Van Gundy.

Despite Casey and Griffin, coupled with the other offseason changes that includes the departures of Anthony Tolliver, Eric Moreland, and Dwight Buycks and arrivals of Glenn Robinson III, Zaza Pachulia, Jose Calderon, and rookies Khyri Thomas and Bruce Brown, Pelton projects no improvement for the organization.

In order, Pelton’s projections have the following teams making the playoffs in the East: Toronto, Boston, Philadelphia, Indiana, Milwaukee, Miami, Washington, and Detroit. All teams from last season’s playoffs are expected to return except Cleveland. Charlotte is just behind the Pistons at a projected 38.3 wins.

Pelton’s record projections use a combination of real plus-minus and the SCHOENE projection system, which he developed himself.

Reporter John Schuhmann of NBA.com also recently ranked the teams of the Eastern Conference and had the Pistons sneaking into the playoffs. In his July 30 Mid-Summer Power Rankings, his top eight in the East were Boston, Toronto, Philadelphia, Indiana, Milwaukee, Washington, Detroit, and Miami.

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These tepid projections should be a warning sign for Pistons’ fans. Considering how disappointing Detroit’s record was regarded last season, finishing in the same ballpark would be unacceptable. Exceeding these expectations depends on Griffin’s abilities in his first full season as the headliner and the health of Jackson, which counting on has proven to be fruitless.

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