The Detroit Pistons have dominated NBA social media the last few days as fans argue about the scuffle with the Timberwolves, and the ensuing fallout, which led to five players in total being suspended.
Most of the commentary from outside of Detroit had a negative slant, as fans clutched pearls about the way Detroit handles their business, which is with physical defense, the hallmark of all of their great teams.
Another similarity is that everyone hated those teams, so seeing NBA fans hating on the Pistons again actual gave me a feeling of joy. We’re back!
Isaiah Stewart is at the center of it as usual, with casual fans talking about how all he does is fight, which is ridiculous to anyone who actually follows the sport or watches the games.
Regardless of how you feel about some pushing and shoving in a heated game with playoff seeding at stake, the Pistons’ magic number is down to one, so it’s likely fans are going to get a larger dose of it in the playoffs, especially if Detroit ends up playing Indiana. I hope they have their white gloves and fainting couches prepared.
The good news is that Pistons fans couldn't care less if everyone else hates us, as it’s clear sign that we matter again after being completely irrelevant and ignored for years.
And even the biggest Pistons haters have to admit one thing.
The NBA is better when the Detroit Pistons are good
Whether you love them or hate them, the Pistons have been one of the most entertaining teams in basketball this season and it’s not because they’ve been in a few minor fights.
They play as a team, share the ball and have a likable cast of players who happen to have been involved in some epic games this season, whether they were buzzer-beater wins or games that featured a heated scuffle or two.
Rivalries against teams like Indiana, Milwaukee and Boston have been renewed, which is not just good for Pistons fans who wanted to finally see competitive basketball against these teams, but good for the league as a whole.
The Pistons were one of the marquee teams of the league for most of my life but hit a rough patch and were removed from the narrative for years, reduced to a doormat in the Eastern Conference that was rarely on TV or drawing any attention at all.
Even if a lot of it is negative, it’s good for the NBA to have some focus back in Detroit, as the Pistons still represent greatness to a lot of people and villainy to others.
They are an exciting underdog or a bunch of dirty players depending on who you ask, but either way, it’s a team any basketball fan should want to see in the playoffs, as you know it’s going to be exciting, hard-fought basketball.
This team has a long way to go and hasn’t achieved anything yet, but given all of the talk about ratings, the NBA should be happy to see one of its greatest franchises back where they belong.