The Detroit Pistons are currently the second-worst team in the NBA, so it might sound strange when I say that they will make the playoffs next season.
The Pistons have been scrappy and competitive this season, but let’s face it, they are still bad, so it’s a pretty big leap of faith to say that they’ll be a playoff team that quickly.
Troy Weaver has done a fantastic job in his first season, trading for and signing some productive veterans and having one of the Pistons’ best modern drafts by grabbing Killian Hayes, Isaiah Stewart and Saddiq Bey.
The Pistons’ trio of rookies have been amongst the best of their class, with Bey and Stewart likely to make he All-Rookie team and Hayes showing some flashes of what he can do since returning from injury.
They are headed for a hopeful top-five pick in the NBA Draft and had a starting lineup in the last game whose oldest player was 22-years-old, which doesn’t exactly scream “playoff team.”
But there are some logical reasons why the Detroit Pistons will “do something big” next season, and I for one think they can make the playoffs. Here’s why.
Detroit Pistons: Dwane Casey has history
Pistons’ fans have mostly rallied around Dwane Casey this season, as he has done a great job of developing the young players while instilling good habits and a competitive attitude.
But Casey wasn’t just brought here to mentor and develop young players, he has a track record of winning.
If you look at his time in Toronto, it wasn’t until the third season that Casey was able to put his stamp on the team and take them to an unexpected Atlantic Division title after missing the playoffs two years in a row.
He did it with a team that had a nice combination of young, ascending players and smart veterans who knew their roles.
Sound familiar?
If the Pistons can add the right combination of veterans and another injection of young talent they will have a young, hungry team that has a chip on its shoulder and will be ready to win after a season of losing.
He’ll have a full offseason (more on that in a second) to coach up his guys and game plan around their talent. Casey’s run of success in Toronto started in year three and there is a good chance he will do it again in Detroit.
Detroit Pistons: The young players will improve with full offseason
What’s been most impressive about the play of Saddiq Bey and Isaiah Stewart is that they are doing it with a weird, short offseason that had no real training camp.
With a full offseason to get to work, the rookies should make big improvements both physically and mentally.
They will also get a chance to further gel and gain chemistry with a full offseason, Summer League and training camp to prepare.
The Detroit Pistons are also hoping to add impact talent from this year’s draft in the form of Cade Cunningham, Evan Mobley, Jalen Green, Jalen Suggs or one of the other potential stars from this loaded draft.
This injection of talent coupled with internal growth from the rookies should be enough to propel the Pistons to a few more victories next season as they will be deeper and more prepared than they were in this COVID-shortened season.
But if you need more proof that the Detroit Pistons can make the leap into the playoffs, just look at what happened in New York.
Detroit Pistons: Defense and the New York Knicks
Last season the New York Knicks won 21 games and finished 12th in the Eastern Conference.
They are currently 37-29 and about to secure the 4th seed in the playoffs just a season later. How in the world did they do it?
Easy answer. Defense.
The Knicks went from the 23rd ranked defense in 2020 to the 3rd ranked this season and that, coupled with a MVP caliber season from Julius Randle and some improvement from their youngsters, has been enough for them to make a huge leap.
The Pistons are hoping to do the same thing.
Dwane Casey said his goal is to have a top-ten defense next season and the Pistons can absolutely get there.
They are 18th in the NBA this season and have been much better since Blake Griffin left. Over the last ten games they’ve been allowing 110 points on average which would put them in the top ten.
They have the personnel to make another jump, especially once their players are in more familiar and regular roles.
If the Detroit Pistons can get internal improvement under Casey and can improve their defense, they can and will make the playoffs next season.
Call me Homer #1 but this team will be good sooner rather than later.