Team USA Stars came out on top of the All-Star Game and the Pistons' contributions could not be ignored. Detroit had multiple members on Team Stars: guard Cade Cunningham, center Jalen Duren and head coach JB Bickerstaff. After the win, the Pistons' status as championship contenders cannot be denied.
The Pistons were dominant in the All-Star Game
Team Stars ended up playing 3 total games, each one quarter long, on the way to their All-Star win. In those three games, Cunningham had 15 points, 7 rebounds and 7 assists while Duren added 15 points and 11 rebounds. They also brought a rare level of defensive identity to All-Star festivities that has sorely been missing in recent years.
Cade's status as a superstar leading the Pistons has been firmly established over the last two seasons. Now, Duren has also emerged as a legitimate second star and proven it against the best bigs in the league. And perhaps most importantly, JB Bickerstaff showed his ability to coach against talented opponents.
Of course, the All-Star game doesn't necessarily translate directly to either the regular season or playoffs. Many of the best players in the league either sit out the weekend or give half-hearted effort (we're looking at you Luka Doncic and Nikola Jokic). But the Pistons' prominence on Sunday night should earn them more respect across the league and in the national media.
Even while the Pistons have consistently led the Eastern Conference all season long, they haven't usually been treated like a proper championship contender. But their current record of 40-13, which is actually an even better win percentage than the West-leading Thunder, should confirm their championship ambitions.
Detroit currently holds a 5.5 game lead over the second-place Celtics in the East. They're well on their way to capturing the top seed for the first time in 20 years. And yet, there's often been more attention paid to the Celtics, Knicks or Cavaliers as darkhorse title contenders than the steady Pistons.
Some of the questions about Detroit's title chances can definitely be chalked up to inexperience. The Pistons have a very young core and haven't won a playoff series in nearly 2 decades. But they earned invaluabe experience last year in a close series loss to the Knicks. And it's clear they've leveled up significantly this season.
The Pistons might be young still, but that doesn't necessarily have to be a disadvantage. The Thunder were one of the youngest title-winning teams ever last season. They won games with relentless defensive effort across the roster, similar to how the Pistons are playing now. An older team might arguably have a harder time playing this style, but the young Pistons will hope to match the Thunder's postseason success in a few short months.