Why the Pistons could win their group in the NBA In-Season Tournament
The Detroit Pistons are trying to bounce back from a 17-win season that wasn’t much fun for anyone.
The Pistons missed the most games in the NBA due to injury, including losing centerpiece Cade Cunningham for most of the season. They played the young guys and took their lumps, but hopefully made some impact additions that will help turn things around.
The Pistons are still long shots to make the playoffs, but will have something new to play for next season in the NBA’s first In-Season Tournament.
The schedule was released yesterday and the Pistons found themselves in East Group A, which also includes the 76ers, Hawks, Cavaliers and Pacers.
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Detroit would not only have to come out of the group as the winner or wild card, but win three additional games beyond that to win the first NBA Cup. Winning the whole thing is unlikely, but could the Pistons emerge from their group?
Detroit Pistons: East Group A is the worst group
The Pistons were a combined 2-13 against the teams in their group last season and nine of those losses were blowouts, so on paper, they are by far the biggest underdog in the group. Philly, Cleveland and Atlanta all made the playoffs last season and Indiana was just outside of the play-in.
But only the 76ers and Cavaliers were above .500 last season, so we are not talking about great teams here when it comes to the Hawks and Pacers. Detroit could beat either of them and one win against either Philly or Cleveland would likely put them through.
Group B is primed to be a bloodbath with the Bucks, Knicks and Heat doing battle and Group C has four teams that were at least in the play-in last season. So Detroit got lucky in the group draw and is at least up against a few teams that they have a chance of beating.