Rivalries are what make sports great and the Detroit Pistons have had some fierce ones over the years.
When I first started watching it was the Celtics and Lakers (I still hate them both) and eventually the Detroit Pistons went head-to-head with Michael Jordan’s Bulls in one of the best rivalries in the history of the NBA.
Rivalries are a good sign for a team, as it usually means they are good enough to care about or get under the skin of rival fans.
We’ve seen a watering down of these rivalries over the years for various reasons, mostly because players move around a lot more than they used to in the past, so guys aren’t going up against the same teams and players in the playoffs every season like they were back in the day.
Players are a lot friendlier overall, as most have known each other since they were kids and spend time figuring out how to join forces rather than trying to beat the other guy.
The Detroit Pistons are an up-and-coming team hoping to establish themselves, which could lead to some rivalries this season, which would be a welcome return for those of us who remember what it was like.
Here are a few teams that could end up being rivals next season.
Detroit Pistons: The heavy hitters of the Eastern Conference
- Boston Celtics
- Milwaukee Bucks
The Pistons are hoping to climb in the Eastern Conference next season and there is a good chance that they will.
With Cade Cunningham entering his second season, and a better cast around him, the Pistons are a trendy pick to be one of the next powerhouse teams in the East.
But they aren’t there yet, which means they will have to start knocking off the teams at the top, which include the Boston Celtics and Milwaukee Bucks, two classic rivals for the Pistons.
The Pistons already played Boston tough last season and finally beat the Bucks after what seemed like years of futility. As the Pistons continue to improve, they are going to start getting under the skin of the teams that have grown accustomed to beating up on them.
I expect we’ll see some spirited games against the Celtics and Bucks next season as Cade Cunningham and the Pistons try to establish themselves in the East.