The Detroit Pistons got off to a fast start last season on their way to 60 wins, and they will need it again next year under much different circumstances.
The Pistons went 13-2 in their first 15 games last season and if you look at their schedule, it makes sense, as they loaded up on home games and beat up on weaker teams. That early stretch last season was part of a 13-game winning streak that set the tone for the season.
But nine of those first 15 were at home, and over half of them were against teams that didn’t even sniff the play-in tournament. It won’t be as easy this season, as the Pistons play a loaded schedule right out of the gate.
The Detroit Pistons schedule tests the new-look roster early
The Pistons tip off the 2026-27 NBA calendar with the first game of the season against the Boston Celtics at home. The next three games are on the road against the Heat, 76ers and Knicks. Sheesh.
The Pistons will play the elite of the Eastern Conference right away, so we’ll get an early understanding of what this team is made of.
Of their first 15 games, nine of them are on the road, the opposite of last season, and 11 of them will be against opponents who either made the playoffs last season or expect to in this one.
They will play the 76ers, Heat and Hornets twice each in that span, while also facing games against the Celtics, Knicks, Spurs and Raptors. Their only “easy” games are two against the new-look Wizards, who might surprise some people next season, one against the Nets and one against the Pelicans, all on the road.
If the Pistons managed to go 13-2 like they did last season, it would be impressive, and this schedule is going to test all of their moving parts.
Pistons can’t take long to gel
The good news is that as long as the Pistons re-sign Jalen Duren, they will have a fair amount of continuity from last year’s team while a lot of these teams (76ers, Heat) will be working major pieces into their rotations.
The Pistons will mostly have the same starting lineup except with John Collins instead of Tobias Harris, a change that will take some adjustment, as Harris was a big part of the offense last season and Collins figures to be more of a spot-up 3-point shooter than anything.
The Pistons will be relying on an almost entirely new bench, but one that has much more shooting than last season.
It will take some time to work the new guys in, but time is not something the Pistons can enjoy next season, as their early schedule is a tough one, and they don’t want to fall into an early hole in the revamped Eastern Conference.
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