Detroit Pistons: One thing to be worried about every Eastern Conference team
Something Smells in the Basement
Though the East has gotten better overall, there is still a stench emanating from the cellar. The worst teams in the NBA will likely come from the East and Detroit needs to dominate them to have a chance. They stink, yes, but like all NBA teams, they have at least one thing that should worry Detroit.
Cleveland Cavaliers
The Cavs are going to be bad, really bad. Their roster is a “who’s who” of who? Kevin Love is one of the only players a casual fan would recognize, and he’ll likely be on another team before the trade deadline. The biggest thing for Detroit to worry about is complacency. They cannot let up against weaker teams, especially ones who aren’t even trying to win.
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Charlotte Hornets
As I wrote in my 2019-20 preview, the Hornets are going to be one of the worst teams in the league. Detroit should be more worried about team flu than the Hornets’ roster which is one of the most depressing in the NBA. However, the Pistons have had difficulty stopping quick point guards over the last few years, so they need to worry about keeping Terry Rozier out of the lane. If Detroit can stop the Hornets’ guards, they should roll.
New York Knickerbockers
After Frank Ntilikina and the French team embarrassed the U.S. in the FIBA World Cup, Knicks’ fans have a little to be excited about, but Frankie Nicotine shouldn’t be Detroit’s biggest worry. Power forward Julius Randle had a breakout year for New Orleans last season, averaging 21.4 points, 8.7 rebounds and just over 3 assists per game. He can be a force in the post, is becoming more of a 3-point threat at 34 percent and is getting better as a passer. Detroit must keep him in check if they want to dominate the Knicks.