Pistons claim unfamiliar spot and dare anyone to push them out

With All-Star weekend upon us, the Detroit Pistons unexpectedly have the best record in the entire NBA. 

That’s not a sentence I expected to write this season, even after Detroit finally climbed out of the cellar last year to make the playoffs. It seemed as though they were on the right path, and I did expect them to improve, but I don’t think anyone who is being honest saw this one coming. 

The Pistons are 5.5 games ahead of the second-seed Celtics and riding a three-game win streak going into the break even though they were missing key players due to suspension. It’s certainly not over yet, as Boston made a nice deadline pickup and could get Jayson Tatum back at some point before the playoffs. 

Detroit pulled ahead of OKC in win percentage after the Thunder lost to the Bucks last night, though OKC has played three more games than Detroit. 

Trajan Langdon was so confident in his group that he refused to make too many waves at the trade deadline, instead sending Jaden Ivey to the Bulls for Kevin Huerter hoping to inject a bit more life into the offense. 

But when you are the best team in the league and all of your key players are 24 years old or younger, you are playing with house money when it comes to winning a title. Detroit could do it this year, but they are also in position to compete for the foreseeable future. 

The Detroit Pistons are on a path to sustained title shots 

If we go by Phil Jackson’s 40/20 rule, which states a team has to win 40 before losing 20 to be considered a real contender, then there are only four teams left who have a shot at the title. 

The Pistons and Thunder have already gotten to 40 wins, and the Spurs will likely get there, as they just have to win two more before they lose four. The Celtics would have to win five in a row to get to the magic number, a mark that has been reached by 40 of the last 44 champions. 

However, this could be one of the odd years, as there are still plenty of teams who fancy their chances to play for a championship, including the Nuggets, who have had key injuries, Rockets, Knicks and Cavaliers, who are all within striking distance. 

The Cavs are particularly concerning in the Eastern Conference, as they have won five straight going into the break to claim the 4th position and just picked up James Harden, so they will be one to watch. 

I’ve seen a lot of online fans ridiculing those of us who are enjoying this run by the Pistons, even though it may not ultimately end in a title, but this is just the beginning. Like I said, Detroit is playing with house money, exceeding expectations and in a place, no one thought they would be. 

Don't tell this group that, as they are daring anyone to push them out of the top spot, which may happen, but whoever does it will have a war on their hands.

The best is yet to come, but enjoy this part of the journey, as the underdog status will dissipate soon, and the Pistons will have the burden of higher expectations.