It’s been a long time since the Detroit Pistons were good, or even interesting, so many of their old rivalries have died out.
With so many players changing teams in the modern NBA, it’s hard to form rivalries that last. Couple that with the fact that today’s players all know each other and often grow up playing together, and the league is nothing like it was during the 1980’s and 90’s, when teams legitimately hated one another.
The Detroit Pistons were once in the thick of some of the most heated rivalries in NBA history, with the Bad Boys era having the Celtics, Lakers and Bulls and the Goin’ to Work era battling the Indiana Pacers.
Those rivalries were legit and often led to punches being thrown, and in the case of the Pacers, full on brawls that included the fans.
We’ve not seen anything like that since, probably by design, and I don’t think we’ll ever see the types of rivalries that we used to, as the NBA and players have changed too much. I don’t miss the brawls, but I do miss rivalries, which is why I am hoping the Detroit Pistons will kick off a few new ones.
Here are three teams that could be the Pistons’ biggest rivals next season.
Detroit Pistons: The Cavaliers and Pistons are on a similar timeline
One thing that can start rivalries is the draft, especially when there is debate at the top. Cade Cunningham was the player most people thought should go number one, but there were very vocal groups behind both Jalen Green and Evan Mobley.
The Pistons and Cavaliers are not only in the same division, but both are rebuilding teams trying to claw their way out of the cellar. They will feature mostly young players who are trying to prove themselves, and since neither team is going to win many games, their battles will be heated.
Cade Cunningham is going to want to prove the Detroit Pistons were right to take him number one and I’m sure Isaiah Stewart will do his best to help him by trying to shut down Evan Mobley.
These will be fun games between two young and evenly matched teams that could evolve into a rivalry over the next several seasons.
Detroit Pistons: It’s time to re-kindle the rivalry with the Chicago Bulls
Historically, the Chicago Bulls might be the Pistons’ biggest rivals, as the Bad Boys spent a few years dominating Michael Jordan’s Bulls before MJ and crew finally broke through and took over the NBA for most of the 1990’s.
Because players were allowed to be so physical back then, those games got ugly, but both teams were highly skilled so they were also fun to watch.
Since then the Pistons and Bulls have mostly stunk (outside of the 2000’s Pistons) and it’s been a long time since both were good at the same time. The Bulls made a few offseason additions that they are hoping will launch them into the top half of the Eastern Conference power rankings.
The Detroit Pistons are probably a step behind but have a lot of young talent who will be eager to take on the challenge of beating Zach LaVine, Lonzo Ball and the Bulls.
This one has history, so it won’t take much to kick it off. One close game at the beginning of the season and I think we’ll see the Pistons and Bulls get back to some semblance of their former rivalry, though I doubt it will ever be as good as it once was.
Detroit Pistons: Bring on the Houston Rockets
Nothing kicks off a rivalry faster than some good old fashioned trash talk and Jalen Green of the Houston Rockets is not shy about running his mouth.
Green was not happy about being drafted number two, and let Detroit know about it, saying nasty things about the city and clearly taking it personally.
To be honest, I think Green is being ridiculous and inventing things to motivate himself, which is fine, as some players need to pretend they have a chip on their shoulder.
I also think he’s spending far more time thinking about Cade Cunningham than Cade is thinking about him, which probably aggravates Green even more.
I expect the two to have some great back and forth in their careers and for Cade and Green to both to bring their “A” games when they face each other.
The Rockets also feature former Piston Christian Wood, who will be eager to show his old team that they messed up by not re-signing him.
This will lead to some heated games, especially since both teams are young and evenly matched and I expect the Houston Rockets to be the Pistons biggest rivals for years to come.