The Pistons blew out the Hawks on Friday night to extend their lead atop the East and their depth stood out. Even with the starting unit playing just over 20 minutes, the Pistons' bench pieces continued to build the lead. The Pistons' 20-5 start wouldn't be possible without solid bench contributions from various different players.
Depth has been a key to success for the Pistons
At this point, the Pistons are almost overflowing with depth. As they get healthier, it's hard to find minutes for all of the solid players on the roster. It's even gotten to the point where some guys are riding the bench or getting demoted to the G-League despite being good enough to play NBA minutes.
But this is the opposite of a weakness. Instead, the continued excellence of the Pistons' roster top-to-bottom bodes well for the remaining regular season and playoffs. If there are any injuries that pop up or foul trouble in a given game, the Pistons have the backups to weather those troubles without missing a beat.
The Pistons did a great job behind the scenes to create a system that can support and encourage this kind of depth. The front office has acquired a lot of serviceable players on cheap contracts to round out the team. And the coaching has done a great job of establishing a strong team identity, starting on defense, that lets every player thrive.
Elsewhere in the league, only the Thunder have shown similar capabilities. Their depth has led to a record-pace start at 24-2, but the Pistons are still shockingly close in the standings. Both teams do follow a similar formula: tenacious defenders around a big superstar guard and tons of able bodies coming off the bench.
No one expected the Pistons to lead their conference and look like the closest thing to the defending champions. But the steady development of Detroit's depth pieces has unlocked a new possibility for this season. Not only does depth have a profound impact on racking up regular season wins, but it can also pay off in the postseason.
Typically, teams shorten their rotations in the playoffs and only play their most trusted players. But having a longer list of trusted players can allow a team to keep fresher bodies on the court and push hard for 48 minutes. With the increased intensity and physicality of the playoffs, the Pistons might not be able to sustain their usual brand of basketball without turning to bench players for big minutes when needed.
The final ceiling of the Pistons' playoff run and their ability to rival Oklahoma City will likely depend on Cade Cunningham's performance. If he can replicate the impact of reigning MVP Shai Gilgeous-Alexander, the Pistons might have all the ingredients of a championship contender.