The Detroit Pistons came into the season with plenty of question marks hanging over a roster that had won 14 games just the season before.
They’ve answered most of them in resounding fashion, as the Pistons are rolling, firmly holding the 6th seed in the Eastern Conference and looking to move up in the standings.
It’s a far cry from where they were at this time last year, when fans were starting to ask some uncomfortable questions about the young core and wondering aloud if the new front office should blow things up and start over.
No one is wondering that now, in fact, we’ve seen the narrative change from “The Pistons need another star!” to “Maybe we should just let this play out.”
That will be the debate that follows them into the offseason, but there are other questions that have already been answered.
Is Cade Cunningham a star? Yes.
Most of us believed it was just a matter of time before Cade Cunningham made a leap, but didn’t necessarily expect it to happen all at once.
It’s amazing what a few veterans who can play can do for a guy, as Cunningham has exploded with more space and shooters around him, something that most fans were crying out for since he joined the league.
Cunningham has put up numbers, but is also showing the leadership qualities that made him an appealing #1 pick. He’s improved his defense and taken more ownership on that end, while improving as a shooter and playmaker.
There are no more questions if Cade is a guy you can build a good team around. He is.
Will Ausar Thompson’s 3-point shooting hold him back? Nope.
Ausar Thompson’s insertion into the starting lineup is when things really started to click for the Pistons.
Since then, they’ve had one of the best defenses in the league and are dominating in transition, both areas where Thompson excels.
He hasn’t even attempted a 3-point shot in recent memory, but finds ways to affect the game with his defense, hustle and rebounding. Does it matter that he can’t shoot?
Not yet, we’ll see how things go if the Pistons make the playoffs and the other teams double off him to try and take Cade out of the game. But they’ve been doing that already, and Thompson has been great about not settling for 3’s, instead trying to get to the rim and create.
He may never be a good shooter from range, but he does so many other things that impact games that it doesn’t really matter.
Is Jalen Duren the center of the future? Yes.
Duren did not have a strong start to the season but something clicked a few weeks back and he’s been a big part of their surge since.
It starts with effort, as Duren is giving more on both ends, finally figuring out that he can impact games just by running hard and getting his hands on passes. He’s also improved as a passer and is now part of the offense from the elbow.
His ability to pass has opened things up for Thompson as a cutter, which keeps him from lingering around the 3-point line.
Duren is a handful, and has blocked 10 shots in his last two games. He still needs to improve defensively, but he is headed in the right direction and only 21-years-old! He is a starting center in the NBA for sure and will hopefully continue to get better.
The Pistons may have another All-Star on their hands in the next few seasons.
Speaking of stars...
Is the Pistons’ second star already on the roster? Pending.
This will be the big question going into next offseason, as the Pistons will have the cap space, contracts and picks to make a big move, but should they?
There has been a lot of talk about Devin Booker given the Suns’ recent struggles, and obviously he is a very good player, but are we sure we need him?
It would take several players to match contracts for Booker and I’m not sure the Pistons would come out of that transaction a better team overall. What if Jaden Ivey can give you most of what Booker does at a fraction of the cost?
What if Jalen Duren has another level or two offensively and starts giving you 18-20 ppg to go along with his rebounding?
What if Ausar Thompson or Ron Holland II, who are already elite defenders, learn how to shoot?
The Pistons may not need to go star hunting and can instead let this team grow organically with successful examples like OKC in front of them.
I’m getting close to the side of patience, as this team is very good and is showing that chemistry matters more than star names on paper.