Expert makes bold prediction about the Detroit Pistons

You won’t find many people who are super high on the Detroit Pistons right now. 

I would argue that in my time covering the team, this is the least excited fans have been for a season. We’re fresh out of hope after being fed nothing but for five seasons and need to see some results. 

Most publications are predicting the Pistons to win under 30 games again, which sadly would be a marked improvement over last season’s debacle. 

But John Hollinger from The Athletic picked the Pistons as one of his teams that would exceed expectations next season. He doesn’t think they’ll be good or anything, but he does think they are a good bet to exceed 25 wins for the first time since 2018-19.  

It’s not a bold prediction as bold predictions go, but when you consider it would be nearly double the win total from last season, it’s at least something. It's the reasons for his choice that interested me. 

Hollinger cited a number of factors as to why the Pistons will exceed expectations next season. 

The Pistons have a better coach and a better front office 

Detroit has upgraded from the Williams/Weaver clown car to JB Bickerstaff and Trajan Langdon. Obviously, the latter duo has to prove themselves, but they could hardly be worse. Langdon has already put together a more coherent roster than Weaver ever did and Bickerstaff could improve upon Monty just by staying awake. 

Coach Bickerstaff has already differentiated himself from his predecessor by embracing analytics and talking about 3-point shots and the best ways to get them. 

The Pistons should have better health 

Detroit had a ton of injuries last season and a lot of those players are gone, including the oft-injured Alec Burks, Bojan Bogdanovic, Joe Harris, Marvin Bagley III, James Wiseman and Isaiah Livers. 

They’ve been replaced by guys like Tobias Harris, Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr., veterans with histories of staying healthy. They should have fewer games with a G-League team on the floor next season.  

The Pistons got rid of the dead weight 

Killian Hayes, James Wiseman and Isaiah Livers were three of the worst players in the NBA last season. Simply not having them on the roster will improve the team. I am so happy I don’t have to watch any of them next year. 

The Eastern Conference is not great 

Past the top teams, the East is pretty much mediocre to bad. The Pistons can compete with any of the teams outside of the 6-7, as everyone else is trash.  

It’s not a great sign when 28 wins looks like a victory, but that’s where the Pistons are until they prove otherwise.