Detroit Pistons: One thing to be worried about every Eastern Conference team

The Contenders

Philadelphia 76ers

After intentionally losing for nearly a decade, the 76ers are finally good and should challenge for the Eastern Conference title this season. If they do so, it will be on the back of All-NBA center Joel Embiid. When healthy, Embiid is a force of nature and Drummond hasn’t been able to stop him, either on the floor, or on social media, where Embiid has used his platform to clown the Pistons’ center. Detroit played Philly tough last season, but if they want to beat them they must slow down Embiid.

Detroit’s primary concern is that Drummond tries to do too much. He can’t let Embiid live in his head. Drummond must focus only on stopping Embiid and getting rebounds, that’s it. He doesn’t need to try and match Embiid’s offense, can’t try to go head-to-head with him and can’t waste possessions getting his baby hook swatted because he wants to prove he’s as good as Embiid. Embiid is the only player that really rattles Drummond, and this is a matchup that should concern Detroit.

Milwaukee Bucks

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The Bucks demolished the Pistons in the first round of the playoffs last season, using a combination of long wings that Detroit couldn’t stop. It didn’t help that Detroit was without the Alpha Ginger, Blake Griffin, for two of the games, but even with their All-NBA power forward, the Pistons didn’t stand a chance.

The obvious worry is reigning MVP Giannis Antetokounmpo, but no team can stop him, so there’s no reason in discussing the Greek Freak.

Instead, Detroit needs to be concerned about Khris Middleton for a couple of reasons. Not only does Middleton represent the type of tall, sharp-shooting wing that Detroit can’t stop, but he is exactly what they lack.

Detroit should worry about Middleton because he is symbolic of their failure to develop talent, especially at the wing. Middleton was a throw-in in the trade for Brandon Jennings, a colossal failure of talent development and recognition. Detroit made the right pick, but couldn’t develop Middleton, which should be a big concern. Detroit must not only draft well but develop the talent they draft if they ever want to be back at the top of the Eastern Conference.

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