The Detroit Pistons have given every reason possible to be considered the favorites to make it out of the Eastern Conference when the NBA Playoffs come around.
Detroit has a dominant home record (25-8), they have the best point differential in the East (+7.4), and they have an impressive 26-13 record against teams over the .500 mark. Not to mention, they've held their own in a number of clutch games up to this point of the regular season.
Still, since the recent struggles have crept up on Detroit as of late, so has the doubt surrounding the team's postseason chances.
The recent narrative surrounding the Pistons suggests J.B. Bickerstaff's squad lacks the veteran experience to represent the East in the NBA Finals; the exact opposite reason as to why many are labeling the Boston Celtics as the biggest threat to Detroit.
But what if I told you the Pistons already have the answer on the roster to the league's biggest doubts about them heading into the postseason?
Tobias Harris is the veteran the Pistons need
Since signing in Detroit, Tobias Harris has been everything the Pistons could have imagined and more.
Not only has the 33-year-old been a reliable prescence in terms of leadership since returning to the Motor City, but his ability to still play at an extremely high-level has been a big plus for this version of J.B. Bickerstaff's Pistons.
Averaging 13.3 points, 4.1 rebounds, and 2.2 assists on efficient shooting splits of 46.0% from the field and 34.6% from beyond the arc, Harris has been a difference-maker for Detroit all season long, coming up in big moments time and time again.
And with several postseason runs between his time in Philadelphia and Detroit, there's no reason why he can't be the answer that can help the team silence the noise from the doubters.
Harris isn't the only savvy veteran thet could be pivotal in the team's playoff push.
Pistons have the experience they're being doubted for
Harris has proven to be one of the best veterans in the league, not only this season, but in years past.
Between his presence, the offseason addition of sharpshooter Duncan Robinson and the acquisition of guard Dennis Schröder ahead of last year's NBA trade deadline, the Pistons have quietly made moves to put them in position to flip the experience narrative on its head.
And that's not even factoring in the valuable experience gained by the rising duo Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren during last year's playoff appearance.
All that to say, it’s clear Detroit has their hands full in the East, especially with the recent emergence of the Celtics with Jayson Tatum back in the mix.
But regarding the notion that Detroit’s chances are slim due to a lack of experience on the roster, there’s plenty of evidence that the Pistons’ front office has done a great job addressing those concerns.