Detroit Pistons: Top 5 ‘Must watch’ games

No. 1: Tues., March 2 at Toronto Raptors (Tampa)

This game literally might be the only opportunity for Detroit Pistons fans to see their team play in person, at least in the first-half of the season.

Due to COVID-19 regulations, it is up in the air when more than a handful of fans will be allowed in Detroit to watch a game. Most likely, it will be in the second half of the season, if at all, that fans will be allowed, in large numbers, at Little Caesars Arena.

Florida has not had restrictions for the virus quite as tight as Michigan on attendance of public events.

Because NBA teams would have to cross the border, a big no-no under  Canadian regulations, the Toronto Raptors are making Tampa, Florida their temporary home.

Games will be played in Amalie Arena, the home of the NHL’s Tampa Bay Lightning.

While the exact amount of fans allowed into games is still being discussed, it will most likely be in the 25% percent range and maybe as much as 50% capacity of an arena, if the infection rate goes down enough.

Florida has two permanent NBA franchises, the Miami Heat and the Orlando Magic. The Pistons play in Miami on January 16 and 18th while they will be in Orlando for games February 21 and 23.

It might be nice to take the family to Disney World and catch the Pistons in action as well. Or a vacation trip to South Beach followed by a Pistons-Heat game also sounds fun.

The problem is, the tickets would be hard to get. Since it will be limited capacity for social distancing reasons, the Heat and Magic will offer what tickets they have available to their season ticket holders first.

Some of those tickets might go on the secondary ticket market for purchase, but they will cost a bundle.

But Toronto will have no fan base established in Tampa. They are after, from another country, and have made it clear the move is only temporary.

That means it would be easier for Detroit fans who want to see the team live, to buy tickets for Raptors games.

There are worse things than having to spend a few days in early March in Tampa, Florida. Hey, take the kids to Busch Gardens before the game.

The Raptors are a good team. The duel at guard between Derrick Rose and Toronto’s Kyle Lowry should make for a good time alone. Seeing Jerami Grant try to shut down the Raptors’ high-scoring Pascal Siakim will also be entertaining.

In football, fans traveling to opponents cities to root for their team is nothing new. Under these extraordinary circumstances, basketball fans might do the same.

After all, if you must watch a game, it would be a lot easier to get over a loss laying on the beach the next day.