The young players on the Detroit Pistons have yet to play in meaningful games in their careers, but that all changes tonight.
The Pistons will face the red-hot Celtics, who are not only the defending champions, but have won six games in a row.
Detroit has a seven-game winning streak of their own on the line tonight, so someone’s streak is getting busted.
This is a test for Detroit: Can they handle the pressure of a big game? Can they play with poise and composure against a very good veteran team? Will the nerves get to them? Are the Pistons for real?
Right now, the Eastern Conference is not great overall and you can break it into clear tiers:
Tier 1: Cavaliers, Celtics
These are the two frontrunners to win the conference. Even though the Cavaliers have the better record (by six games), until someone de-thrones the Celtics, the East goes through Boston.
Tier 2: Knicks, Bucks
Even after losing two in a row, the Knicks have a 4.5-game lead on the next level of teams. The Pistons have beaten the Knicks twice this season, but that means nothing in the playoffs and New York still has the more talented roster overall.
I’m still putting the Bucks ahead of the Pacers just because they have Giannis and have won a title in the past.
Tier 3: Pacers
Tier 3a: Pistons
The Pistons and Pacers may be on the same level talent-wise, but the Pacers have beaten Detroit three times this season and seem to have their number with some tough matchups, especially for the Pistons’ frontcourt.
Tier 4: Magic
The Magic are an offense away from being a contender, but Paolo Banchero has struggled at times this season. I wouldn’t be surprised if they went on a run and closed the gap, but right now, the Pistons have a four-game lead.
Orlando will be the most dangerous team in the play-in tournament.
Tier 5: Hawks, Heat, Bulls, Nets
All mediocre. The Heat may turn things around at some point, but this has been a nightmare season for them overall. The Bulls and Nets are tanking-ish but someone has to get that 10th spot and it doesn’t seem like Philly is going to make the run we’ve all been waiting for.
Tier 6: Raptors, 76ers
Dangerous spoiler teams. They aren’t playing for anything, but have talent and can beat anyone on a given night. This will depend on whether the 76ers shut down Embiid and tank the rest of the season, which they might considering their pick is only top-6 protected.
Tier 7: Wizards, Hornets
The bull-blown tankers.
Can the Detroit Pistons move up a tier? We will learn plenty in the next two games.
Detroit Pistons schedule: A two-game test
After playing defending-champion Boston tonight, the Pistons will welcome Nikola Jokic and the Denver Nuggets on Friday.
The Nuggets look like a contender again, and if I had to pick one team to win the Western Conference, it would be them. They are currently tied with Memphis for the 2nd seed and have won nine of their last 10 games, so now is not a good time to play the Nuggets.
It’s not the end of the world if the Pistons lose these two games, as they are playing two of the title frontrunners this season, teams that have won championships recently and feature an MVP and MVP candidates.
I don’t think anyone puts the Pistons at their level yet, so these games aren’t just about wins.
Sure, if the Pistons could win one or both of these, they’d float away on a cloud of confidence and the city will be right there with them.
What’s more important is playing poised, competitive games against two of the best teams in the NBA. The Pistons have beaten the 76ers, Hornets, Bulls (x2), Spurs, Hawks and Clippers during this streak.
Only one of those teams is headed to the postseason (LA), so this hasn’t exactly been a murderer’s row of teams. The Pistons are rolling, but can they hang with the real contenders?
We are going to find out in the next two games. The Pistons will either walk away with confidence, establishing themselves as a real threat in the East or get a reality check that they aren’t quite there yet.