February is here, and the Detroit Pistons enjoy a 5.5 game cushion as leaders of the Eastern Conference, but they will be tested before the month is out.
The trade deadline isn’t the only thing looming, as the Pistons are entering a tough part of their schedule against key conference rivals, some of whom are playing their basketball of the season.
It starts with the Nuggets on Tuesday, who just got Nikola Jokic back, so will be a true test for the Pistons after narrowly defeating Denver on the road recently without their former MVP.
It doesn’t get much easier from there, as the Pistons will face the Wizards (can’t get caught slipping), Knicks, Hornets, Raptors, Knicks, Bulls, Spurs, OKC and Cavs to round out the month.
The Knicks have won six straight and are looking more like the team that many had picked to win the East before the season started. Friday’s game will be at home as the second game of a back-to-back, which seems to happen every time the Pistons play the Knicks or Celtics for some reason (the Pistons played the Celtics as part of a B2B earlier in the season and the Knicks back in early January).
The Hornets have also won six straight and won’t be a cake walk, as they are playing well and a tough team to beat if they get hot.
The Raptors are the 4th seed, and the Cavs have quietly crept up to 5th after a slow start, so these will be tough games, not to mention playing the two best teams in the West in the Thunder and Spurs.
This month will be a nice test for the young Pistons and one they may be doing while adjusting on the fly.
The Pistons could have some new players after the trade deadline
Thursday’s trade deadline is looming, and no one really knows what the Pistons are going to do.
They’ve been linked to Michael Porter Jr. even more of late, but that may be more smoke than fire, as there have been no reported talks between the two teams.
Many believe the Pistons will try to find a player to slip into their trade exception to add some shooting without disrupting their core chemistry.
If the Pistons do end up making a move on the splashier side, they will be working a new player or two into the rotation just as they are entering a key part of the schedule, especially those games against the Knicks.
It may not end up being an issue, but the schedule is tough this month and could get trickier if there is drama at the trade deadline.