The Pistons may still have their fair share of flaws and shortcomings, but their success this season has been nothing short of remarkable. Even after an offseason that was considered disappointing, Detroit has far exceeded expectations once again and secured its spot in the playoffs. The Pistons have reached 50 wins before 20 losses and are still on top of the East.
The Pistons have a very bright future
Detroit has been led all season by All-NBA guard Cade Cunningham. Cade's recent injury has forced the Pistons to rely more on his teammates, but they are still winning games. It's clear that a foundation has been put in place to find success regardless of the exact players on the court. The Pistons have an incredible defense and know how to get the most out of everyone.
This foundation was already poured last season, when the Pistons underwent a historic turnaround. They won 44 games and made the playoff as the 6 seed after winning just 14 games the season prior. That accomplishment in itself was incredible, but taking yet another step from that to be on pace for nearly 60 wins this season was wholly unexpected.
Not even the most optimistic Pistons fan could have seen this level of success coming so soon. Most of the team's best players haven't even reached their primes yet, but the Pistons are already going toe-to-toe with the best players and teams in the league. Imagine where they could be in a couple years, when Cade Cunningham is 27 years old, Jalen Duren is 24 and Ausar Thompson is 25.
Pistons fans need to keep a wider perspective
As fans, it's easy to grow accustomed to a team's level of success over the course of a long season. At this point, it feels like a disappointment if the Pistons don't at least reach the conference finals. After all, they've been dominating the East all season long. But that expectation may need to be taken with a grain of salt in lieu of Cade's collapsed lung.
And remembering the preseason projections also gives better perspective on the Pistons' current status as a team. Before the season, they were expected to be in contention for a top-4 seed and possibly having home court advantage for one playoff series. Instead, they were on pace to run away with the top seed before Cade's injury.
Even if the Pistons end up having a disappointing playoff exit, they still have plenty of room to grow and reach another level. The fact that they are already so dominant shows the talent of their players and excellence of their system.
And the first 50-win season in 18 years is always something to celebrate.