Many of us have heard the phrase “championship or bust.” This old saying is mainly used to put pressure on very talented teams for whom the title is the only acceptable outcome. However, any team could technically be in a “or bust” situation. For example, the Dallas Mavericks were in a “make the playoffs and win a round, or bust” scenario after losing in the first round two years in a row. So what about a team that was at (or near) the bottom of its conference for three straight seasons? What is the “or bust” narrative for a team like the Detroit Pistons?
Detroit Pistons: It’s a “play-in loss or bust” situation
The Detroit Pistons are a rebuilding team, with a solid young core around Cade Cunningham that is just starting to get their sea legs. So when it comes to the “or bust” scheme, the only acceptable one is “play-in loss or bust.” I say play-in loss, because even if the Detroit Pistons lose in the play-in tournament it’s a step up from where they have been. Obviously, winning it would be ideal, but even a loss would show that the Pistons are on the verge of sustained success. The media would take notice, and so would potential free agents. It would also make the 2023-24 season one of infinite hope and optimism.
Detroit Pistons: Next season is about signs of growth
With the current roster, there’s a legit possibility that the Detroit Pistons could be in the same place as next year in the standings. The Pistons have potential, and I think many people realize that, however potential is something that every NBA team has. Most Pistons fans know a championship is still a ways down the road and that they need a lot more talent to get there.
In life, everyone’s goal is to do better than they did the previous year. In the NBA as long as you are constantly advancing and improving, you are on the right track. The Pistons were at the bottom of the East, so the next step in their evolution is to be at the least a 10th seed. If the road next year ends there, then the following year the goal is to make the playoffs, every year getting incrementally better.
So as a team that has been at or near the bottom of the league for three years, the Detroit Pistons need to take that next step, which would mean making the play-in tournament. If they stay where they are or only improve by a few games, you can call next season a “bust.”