There has been endless debate about the NBA Cup, whether it matters or is just a reason to make retina burning courts for a couple of games.
It has produced some exciting games, and teams have responded to increased intensity around them, but there were also teams who were happy to miss out on the extra games and bag a few days of rest.
Last season, the NBA Cup Final featured the New York Knicks and San Antonio Spurs, who then met again in the NBA Finals with the same result, so even though the Knicks were reluctant to hang their NBA Cup banner, it did seem to set a first goal for their championship season.
The NBA Cup ultimately doesn’t matter much outside of the wins and losses the games represent, but it should be an early goal for the Pistons that can set the tone and gain momentum for a deep playoff run.
Getting reps in higher intensity games early on can’t hurt, and the Pistons will have a chance to make a deep run with a favorable Group schedule.
Pistons NBA Cup Schedule sets Detroit up for success
The Pistons landed in Group A, which also includes the Nets, Bucks, Magic and Raptors, all teams that Detroit should be favored against. The games will be played on Fridays between October 30 and November 27, with a couple of games sprinkled in around Thanksgiving.
You can never count any win as easy in the NBA, but the Pistons should be able to take care of business against the Nets and Bucks, two teams that are at different stages of rebuilds.
The Raptors are in “wait and see” mode with the Kawhi Leonard trade, which has put them in a precarious position, as they might not get the results the NBA’s investigation into his tree planting scheme until training camp.
This has put them in limbo, as they may or may not have Kawhi next season.
The Magic are the wild card here, as we know they are a team that gives the Pistons problems. The Pistons were just 2-2 against them in the regular season and were a miracle comeback from being eliminated by Orlando in the first round of the playoffs.
The Magic look like the Pistons’ biggest competition for winning Group A, but it’s not as if they are one of the juggernauts of the conference, and they aren’t a team that got any better in the offseason.
Detroit managed to avoid all of the heavy hitters in the Conference and should be able to emerge from this group with a chance to advance in the knockout stage.
The NBA Cup isn’t the trophy players dream about winning, but it should be a goal for the Pistons that will get them some early high-pressure reps and set what will hopefully be a championship tone for the season.
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