Pump the brakes Pistons’ fans: It’s no time to panic

Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards shoots as Cade Cunningham #2 and Jaden Ivey #23 of the Detroit Pistons defend (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)
Bradley Beal #3 of the Washington Wizards shoots as Cade Cunningham #2 and Jaden Ivey #23 of the Detroit Pistons defend (Photo by Jess Rapfogel/Getty Images)
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NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 29: Cade Cunningham is interviewed after being drafted by the Detroit Pistons during the 2021 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on July 29, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK – JULY 29: Cade Cunningham is interviewed after being drafted by the Detroit Pistons during the 2021 NBA Draft at the Barclays Center on July 29, 2021 in New York City. (Photo by Arturo Holmes/Getty Images)

Detroit Pistons: Will Cade Cunningham bring a title?

It’s not just the talent base I’m assessing with these Pistons. Frankly, there are many ingredients to a winning recipe, with head coach being one of them. Troy Weaver must make a good decision in this regard, there’s no escaping that. Yet I believe in Weaver, his front office (which features the likes of Dwane Casey and Ben Wallace), and the core of players we’re beginning to assemble. What I see so far from those players that makes me most optimistic is their character. From the moment Cade gave his first interview as a Piston, looking at the camera and saying, “Detroit, I’m all the way in,” I’ve been a believer. And that belief was only reaffirmed the following year when tears of joy tumbled down Ivey’s face as he learned he was Detroit-bound. These things matter. And so does the support a team gets from its fan base. After all, these are human beings. They’re young men who have already shown their humanity to us, their desire to win for us. You can see it burning inside of them.

Last season, the team nearly cracked the top ten in attendance despite its awful record. There’s a reason for that. I’m not the only one who believes in this team. We know basketball in this city because, well, we know sports. We’re not easily fooled. Deep down in our collective sports mind, I believe we know we’re on the verge of witnessing something great. In this worst case scenario, we’re going to get some real, competitive basketball. This isn’t the time to flood the pages and airwaves of our local sports media network with consternation and worry. The last fifteen years have been tough, but we’re not slogging through the past. The future is so bright that Cade had to put a pair of shades on as soon after he put on the traditional team draft cap.

Have faith, Pistons fans. The journey to championship #4 is being led by the MotorCade.