The Detroit Pistons are looking to bounce back this season, and after last year’s struggles, there’s plenty of reason for basketball fans to tune in and get excited. If you haven't been keeping up, last season was rough—historically rough. The Pistons ended up with only 14 wins, the worst in franchise history, and they suffered through an NBA-record 28-game losing streak that had the whole nation talking, though for all the wrong reasons. It was a rock-bottom moment for a team that hasn’t won a playoff game since 2008, with only three playoff appearances in the last 15 years.
But here’s the good news: the Pistons are back, and they’re ready to turn things around. With a fresh new start and plenty of changes, there’s renewed optimism as they take the court at Little Caesars Arena on Wednesday to face the Indiana Pacers. Whether you’re a die-hard fan or just a casual basketball watcher, there are some compelling reasons to tune in. Let’s take a deeper look at what’s new and exciting about this Pistons squad heading into the season.
The Big Overhaul: Pistons Cleaned House
Let’s not sugarcoat it—after last season’s embarrassing finish, something had to change. Owner Tom Gores made some serious moves over the offseason, taking a no-nonsense approach to rebuild the team from the ground up. Gores parted ways with general manager Troy Weaver and head coach Monty Williams, a decision that surprised many since Williams was under a massive contract with $67.5 million left on it. That’s how committed Gores was to making a fresh start.
In their place, Trajan Langdon stepped into the lead front office role, marking his first stint as a GM after working as an assistant with both the New Orleans Pelicans and Brooklyn Nets. Joining him is J.B. Bickerstaff, who led the Cleveland Cavaliers to a playoff run last year before being let go. Together, they’ve made it their mission to shore up two key areas: outside shooting and experience. They brought in veteran players like Tobias Harris, Malik Beasley, Tim Hardaway Jr., and Paul Reed, all of whom are expected to bring a sense of stability and better floor spacing to a team that struggled with consistency and turnovers last season.
As the team looks to shake off the memories of last season, Bickerstaff and Langdon have emphasized the importance of setting new habits and standards. Langdon summed it up perfectly during media day: "A lot of our guys haven’t seen winning at a high level... To get there, you have to have certain processes and habits that go along with that. It doesn’t just happen.” It’s clear that the Pistons are aiming not just to compete, but to build a winning culture for the long haul.
Cade Cunningham: Ready to Take Off
Now, let’s talk about one of the most exciting reasons to watch the Pistons this season: Cade Cunningham. The former No. 1 pick and franchise cornerstone is poised for a breakout year, and it could be the season that solidifies his status as one of the NBA’s rising stars. Cunningham signed a five-year, $224 million max contract extension in July, making him the face of the franchise for years to come. But it hasn’t been the smoothest journey for him so far. After a promising rookie season, where he finished third in the Rookie of the Year voting, Cunningham struggled with injuries in Year 2, including a shin injury that required surgery and limited him to just 12 games.
Last season, however, Cunningham began to show flashes of his immense potential. He started slow but finished strong, averaging 22.7 points, 7.5 assists, and 4.3 rebounds per game, while shooting a solid 44.9% from the field and 35.5% from three. And if preseason is any indication, he’s ready to take another leap. Bickerstaff has been nothing but impressed with the 23-year-old, saying, “The ability to be special in this league as a two-way player, with his size, playmaking, he’s got a great understanding of the game... I’ve been extremely pleased with him as a player, even more so him as a person and leader of the team.”
Cunningham’s leadership will be crucial, especially given the Pistons’ youthful roster. His ability to get his teammates involved, while also taking over games when needed, makes him a dual threat on both ends of the floor. His evolution as both a player and a leader will be one of the key storylines to watch this season.
Defense Wins Games: A New Commitment to D
Another major reason to get excited about this Pistons team? Defense. Yes, defense. While it’s easy to get caught up in the offensive side of the game, the Pistons are quietly becoming one of the most defensively focused teams in the league. During preseason, they posted a defensive rating of 96.8, ranking fourth in the league—an incredible improvement over recent seasons.
Last year’s preseason defensive rating was a far less impressive 109.5 (26th), and it’s only the second time since 2016-17 that they’ve ranked in the top 20 for defense during preseason. Granted, preseason results don’t always translate to regular-season success, but it’s a positive sign that the Pistons are tightening up on that end of the floor.
Jalen Duren, Jaden Ivey, and Cunningham have all shown more effort defensively, and that commitment is starting to pay off. The Pistons’ best teams in franchise history were built on strong defense, from the Bad Boys era of the late '80s to the mid-2000s teams that regularly made deep playoff runs. This year, Bickerstaff and his staff have made defense a top priority in practice, and it’s paying off.
“It’s what we do first every single day,” Bickerstaff said. “It’s what we prioritize. And at the end of the day, if you don’t get it, you don’t get to play. So it’s simple. We hold each other accountable, we hold each other to a standard.”
It’s refreshing to see this team prioritize defense again, and if they can keep up that intensity, they have a real shot at surprising a lot of people this season.
Why You Should Tune In
Still need more reasons to watch the Pistons this season? Here’s a quick rundown of what’s new and why you should be excited:
- A New Front Office and Coaching Staff: With Trajan Langdon and J.B. Bickerstaff taking the reins, the Pistons are headed in a new direction with a focus on outside shooting and veteran leadership.
- Cade Cunningham’s Breakout Year: The former No. 1 pick is healthy and ready to prove why he’s worth that max contract extension. Expect big things from him this season.
- A Focus on Defense: The Pistons have one of the best defensive ratings in preseason, and they’re committed to bringing that intensity into the regular season.
This isn’t last year’s Pistons team. They’re hungry, they’ve got something to prove, and with a combination of young talent and veteran leadership, they could be one of the league’s biggest surprises. So, don’t sleep on Detroit—this could be the season that brings the Pistons back into the spotlight.
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