The Detroit Pistons Are Becoming A SERIOUS Problem…

The Detroit Pistons Are Becoming A SERIOUS Problem…

Two years ago, the Detroit Pistons were rock bottom. The worst team in basketball, a franchise so deep in the mud, they broke the record for the longest losing streak in NBA history. Fast forward to now, and somehow these same Pistons are 9 and2, riding a sevengame win streak, sitting at the top of the Eastern Conference. K drives it, jams it, a huge dunk on a huge possession. This is their best start to the season since the chanty Bilips era when flip phones were still cool. So yeah, this might be the beginning of something the rest of the East should be genuinely worried about. The Detroit Pistons might have just turned into a problem. The Pistons are off to a red-hot start in the 2526 season. Seven-game win streak, 9-2 record, top of the Eastern Conference, their best start since the 0506 season when Chanty was still running the point. Two seasons ago, nobody saw this coming. Detroit wasn’t a feel-good story. They were the league’s punchline. Stuck in the mud, buried under years of dysfunction. They lost 28 straight games, tied the league record for longest losing streak ever, and finished 23-24 with a 14 and 68 record. But through all the losing, something shifted. The following season, Detroit pulled off one of the biggest single year turnarounds in NBA history, improving by 30 wins to finish 44 and 38 and their first playoff birth since 2019. They fell to the Knicks in round one, but the message was clear. The rebuild was finally working for a fan base that endured the Monty Williams disaster and endless roster resets. That 44 win season felt almost too good to be true. But here we are 11 games in. The Pistons are dominating, playing with confidence, structure, and belief. Everything Detroit basketball hasn’t been for years. During their seven-game win streak, Detroit ranks fourth in net rating with a plus 12, trailing only the Thunder, Nuggets, and Timberwolves. Their offensive rating sits at 120.4, fifth best in the NBA. Defensively, 108.3, good for fourth, elite on both ends. And the advanced numbers back it up. Over this run, they’ve got a 13% turnover rate. They’re getting to the line at a top four rate and holding opponents to just 50.3% effective field goal percentage. That’s all winning basketball. Defensively, they’ve been flatout dominant. Fourth in overall defensive rating, first in blocks per game, first in rim protection. Their 110.9 defensive rating trails only OKC, Denver, and Dallas. And the crazy part, they’re doing all this without two starters and key rotation guys. Yet somehow they’re 9 and2 sitting at top the East on pace for 60 wins. But if we’re talking about how good the Pistons have been, we’ve got to start with Cade Cunningham. He’s the anchor, the leader, the heartbeat. After making his first All-Star and AllNBA teams last season and carrying Detroit to the playoffs, he’s backed it up. Through 11 games, 27.5 points, 9.9 assists, 5.4 rebounds, 1.4 four steals. He’s shooting 43.6% from the field and 28.8% from three. Can’t score it. Paid the other way. Even defenders on the floor. Guns on the run. It goes. Not a lead efficiency, but good enough when you see when and how he’s scoring. Cade leads the entire league in fourth quarter scoring at 11.2 points per game. During Detroit’s sevename win streak, he’s been ridiculous. 31.6 6 points, 11.1 assists, and 5.3 rebounds on 56.2% true shooting. The Pistons are a plus 84 with him on the floor. He controls every possession like a vet. The pace he plays with doesn’t let defenders speed him up. The game slowing down for him. That’s how he picks teams apart. Scoring when needed, setting up teammates when it matters, keeping the offense balanced. He dropped a career-high 18 assist against Dallas. His 9.9 assists per game ranks second in the NBA, trailing only Jokic. Cad’s both leading the Pistons and shaping their entire identity. His offensive rating of 116.7 and net rating of plus 7.9 are both tracking to be career highs. He’s finishing 63% of his shots within 4 ft, up from 57% last season. His assist percentage sits at 41.7%. Also a career best. He’s directly responsible for nearly half his teammates buckets when he’s on the floor. There aren’t many players in the league playing better basketball right now. And if you want proof of what this version of Cade looks like, check his performance against the Wizards. He started ice cold, missing 31 shots in the game, an NBA record, but he never blinked. kept attacking, kept creating, and somehow finished with a career-high 46 points, 12 rebounds, 11 assists, and five steals. A 46-point triple double after missing 31 shots. It was his third game in 4 days, second night of a backto- back, and he’d already played 40 minutes the night before. In the fourth quarter, with the Pistons down double digits, he came alive. Scored 15 in the final frame to force overtime and eventually lead Detroit to its seventh straight win. That’s mental toughness. That’s superstar stuff. At 24 years old, Cade’s playing like a top 10 player in the league. And if this continues, he’s making a way too early case for MVP. As good as Kad’s been, I don’t know if any Piston has been more impressive than Jaylen Duran. He’s making Cad’s life easier by stepping up as the team’s second star. Duran’s averaged nearly 20 points, 12 rebounds, over a block per game, and shooting 80% from the free throw line. All career highs. He ranks six among all centers in both scoring and rebounding. He’s a huge reason Detroit leads the NBA in points in the paint. His 19.4 points per game this season crushes his averages from last year, 11.8, and 13.8 and eight in 23-24. He’s a certified double double machine, continuing from last season when he finished ninth in the league with 41 double doubles. This year, he already has seven, six of which came during the current win streak, including a 2020 game with 22 points and 22 rebounds against the Jazz. Over the sevename streak, 22.9 points, 13.6 rebounds, two assists, 1.2 two steals and one block per game. His 134.9 offensive rating is pacing for a careerhigh. His reads in pick and rolls have been exceptional. When Cunningham draws multiple defenders and Duran catches near the free throw line, he’s processing the defense, making the right reads, creating easy opportunities. He flashed this last season, but it’s now a consistent skill. He’s been the biggest beneficiary of Cad’s patience. Cunningham has already dished 29 assists to Duran, more than any other teammate. Their pick and roll chemistry has been a nightmare for defenses. Duran’s figured out how to use his strength and athleticism to dominate most centers. He leads the NBA in second chance points, crashing the offensive glass for easy putbacks. He’s getting to the line at the highest rate of his career and hitting 80% of his free throws. Teams can’t foul him with impunity anymore, which makes him incredibly tough to stop. His performances have been relentless. 24-8 against Boston, 21-13 against Orlando, 33-10 against Dallas, and that 22 and 22 game against Utah, showing he can dominate inside with authority. Beyond rebounding, he’s expanded his game, scoring more of quick face ups, short roll reads, and plays that weren’t in his bag last season. His touch around the rim is sharper. He’s unafraid to put himself on the line. Offensively, Duran’s one of the league’s best pick and roll finishes. He’s up to 19 points per game, a huge jump from 12 last season. The Flashes were always there, but now he’s living up to his full potential, but his defensive growth might be even more important. The Pistons have built the identity on defense, which fuels their transition game and paint dominance. For the first time in his career, Detroit’s a better defensive team with Duran on the floor. The team leads the league in blocks and rim protection, and he’s a huge reason why. Effort and results are both there. He’s fully engaged on defense, nearly unstoppable on offense, cleaning the glass, scoring second chance points, excelling at the free throw line. At 21 years old, there’s still room to grow. And if he keeps this up, we’re looking at his first all-star selection, and a very well-earned payday. Basketball’s the ultimate team sport. Even the greatest players need a deep supporting cast to win the title. And this season, the Pistons roster has answered the call. This team has real chemistry. Everybody’s chipping in and everybody’s doing it consistently. Osar Thompson, the better half of the Thompson brothers, if you ask Detroit fans, has been huge. 13.9 points per game on 49.3% shooting, 3.4 assists. But his impact goes beyond the stat sheet. three games with at least three steals during the win streak, nearly one block per game, and an expanding offensive bag that now includes mid-range jumpers, left-handed floers, and even the occasional three. Thompson’s a defensive anchor at the heart of the Pistons scheme. Duncan Robinson. After a slow start, critics question the Pistons decision to trade and extend him, but Robinson’s been a steal. 11.4 points, knocking down 2.6 6 threes per game. During the win streak, he’s hitting three per game on 45% shooting while adding nearly a steal per contest. Isaiah Stewart’s been another key piece, a defensive stopper who can stretch the floor. He’s shooting 39.3% from three while averaging 2.1 blocks per game. His only limitation is staying healthy. Carris Levert is still finding his rhythm after an injury, but he’s heating up, shooting 41% from deep and he went four for five from long range against the Wizards. When fully healthy, he’ll provide a significant boost off the bench. And don’t sleep on Ronald Holland the second. After a respectable rookie season, he’s taken a leap early in 2526. Holland’s averaging 9.3 points, 3.5 rebounds, and 1.9 assists with improved efficiency. turning passing lanes into his second home. He’s on the cusp of becoming a starting caliber player. And the wildest part, the Pistons haven’t even been close to full strength. Jaden Ivy and Marcus Sassa haven’t played yet. Levert’s been limited. Tobias Harris has missed several games. Stewart’s constantly managing injuries. But despite all that, Detroit’s held down the fort. You can only imagine how good this team will look once everyone’s back and healthy. And that’s exactly what makes the Pistons so dangerous. the chemistry, the effort, a superstar playing like one and role players ready to step up. This is what happens when your GM builds around your stars and those stars start playing like all NBA guys. The identity of the Pistons team isn’t about jacking up threes or trying to outshoot opponents. They’ve gone old school in the best possible way. While most of the league lives and dies by the three, Detroit lives in the paint. 78.8% 8% of their total points come from two-point range, second highest rate in the entire NBA. In a league obsessed with spacing, they’re thriving by attacking the rim, bullying defenders, and forcing teams to play their style. Their defense has taken a massive leap, too. Anchored by Osar Thompson, who’s already one of the best perimeters defenders in the East and fueled by a culture shift under coach JB Bickerstaff. The result, a defensive rating that ranks fourth in the entire league. But what really ties it together is how mature they look. They play for each other. Unselfish to the core. Their best player, their go-to scorer, would rather set up his center for a lob than take a tough shot himself. That kind of unselfishness is contagious. Everyone on the team makes the extra pass, dives on the floor, brings energy every night. Effort alone doesn’t win in the NBA. You still need talent. But when you combine talent with consistent defense and effort, you give yourself a chance to win every game. This team believes in itself defensively. They’re leading the league in paint scoring on both ends, blocking shots at a high rate, and guys like Osar Thompson and Ron Holland have been relentless on the wings. This is a top five defense, and with key offensive players still working back to full health, Detroit is only going to get better. The Pistons sit at top the Eastern Conference, riding a seven-game win streak, but they aren’t without weakness. Offensively, they still lack consistent shooting, but that might not be their biggest problem. Health could determine how far this team goes. Last year, the playoffs came down to attrition, and Detroit fell short. The regular season is one thing, but a playoff team is judged by what it does in the second half of the season. For the Pistons to make a serious run, they absolutely have to be healthy heading into the postseason. Expect bumps along the way. It won’t always be smooth, which makes their identity, effort, and chemistry even more critical. In a balanced Eastern Conference, the team that stays the healthiest might take the crown. For Detroit, that’s exactly what they need. The Eastern Conference is there for the taking. And if health holds up, the Pistons could make a run to the conference finals. The Celtics aren’t the same threat they were the last couple of years. The Pacers aren’t a factor. The Bucks have fallen from elite contender status. And while the Knicks and the Cavs are solid, they’re still beatable. The East has never felt more wide open. And right now, Detroit’s leading the charge at the top of the standings. If Kay Cunningham and Jalen Duran keep playing at this level, a deep playoff run starts to feel like the expectation. The key is health. They’ll need most of their roster firing on all cylinders. There’s plenty of basketball left, but Detroit’s clearly on the right path. They have a legitimate shot at a top four seed, maybe even top two or three. As things stand, the Pistons are looking down on the rest of the East and only looking up to one team in the entire league, the defending champion Oklahoma City Thunder. So, now I got to ask you, are the Pistons a playoff lock or are they something even scarier? Could this team actually make the Eastern Conference Finals? Drop your thoughts in the comments below. And if you enjoyed this video, go ahead and hit the like button and subscribe and check out one of these videos on your screen now.

The Detroit Pistons are no longer rebuilding — they’re rising, fast. In this video, we break down how the Pistons have quietly become one of the most dangerous young teams in the NBA, built around star guard Cade Cunningham, and dominant big man Jalen Duren. This isn’t the same Detroit team that’s been at the bottom for years — this is a squad learning how to win and making the rest of the league take notice.

Add in emerging depth pieces and smart roster moves, and it’s clear: the Pistons are coming, and they’re coming sooner than anyone expected. The NBA might not be ready for what’s brewing in the Motor City.

#DetroitPistons #CadeCunningham #NBA