The Detroit Pistons have the talent to make a play for an NBA Championship. However, they must get their turnovers under control. This is an energetic team that moves quickly on offense and plays tough defense. That style tends to generate higher-than-average turnovers, an issue that has plagued the Pistons all season and could be a defining factor in their upcoming playoff run.
The Detroit Pistons Has To Get Their Turnovers Under Control
After a great season, the Pistons were the first team in the Eastern Conference to secure a place in the postseason. The Boston Celtics and the New York Knicks were close behind. Unless something drastic happens, Detroit should finish in first place in the conference.
The problem is that something drastic could still happen. Despite being rather dominant in the East through most of the regular season, the Pistons have had a tough go as of late. They’ve lost five out of their last ten games. That includes a recent 11-point loss to the Toronto Raptors.
It seems like Detroit has lost a step in the final games of the season. That’s not uncommon as it’s the tail end of a long campaign. Everyone on the roster is tired and ready for some rest. As long as they stay in the top, they’ll get that rest as they wait to find out who their opponent will be through the Play-In Tournament. Getting some rest isn’t the Pistons’ only issue, though.
The Pistons Need Better Ball Control
In the 2025-2026 season, the average number of turnovers per game for an NBA team is 14.5. The worst team in the league in this regard at the moment is the Portland Trail Blazers. The Blazers are averaging 17.5 per game. Currently, the best is the Boston Celtics at around 12 per game.
Unfortunately for Detroit, their average turnovers per game at the time of writing is 15.7, which isn’t great. Getting turnovers under control has to be a priority going into the Playoffs. The Pistons’ current average is not just well over the league average. It’s 5.7 turnovers higher than what the Celtics are committing. That’s potentially a huge problem.
Boston is the number two team in the Eastern Conference, and there is a real chance the Pistons will face them at some point in the Playoffs. If Detroit does take on the Celtics, those roughly six turnovers could be turned into 12 to 18 points, depending on how Boston capitalizes on them. Even if the Celtics only take advantage of three of those turnovers, that’s still up to nine additional points.
Mar 10, 2026; Brooklyn, New York, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart (28) and Brooklyn Nets forward Danny Wolf (2) at Barclays Center. Mandatory Credit: Wendell Cruz-Imagn Images
Playoff Basketball Demands More From Teams
Unquestionably, the Pistons have everything it takes to be legitimate contenders for an NBA Championship as early as this year. Their offense is explosive. Their defense is tough, even tougher when Isaiah Stewart is on the court. They have one of the best coaches in the league in JB Bickerstaff and one of the top players around in Cade Cunningham.
None of that will matter if Detroit can’t get their turnovers under control. In a recent victory over the Grizzlies, the Pistons committed 19 turnovers. They won that game with a score of 126 to 110. They’re lucky that was the Grizzlies. It’s safe to say that neither the Celtics nor the Knicks is going to let the Pistons get away with 19 turnovers in a Playoff game without capitalizing on that heavily.
If the Pistons make it through to the NBA Finals, that situation could be even worse. The top teams in the Western Conference would absolutely feast on a team committing 15.7 turnovers per game, let alone 19. Detroit wants an NBA Championship this season, but they have to get their turnovers under control if they want to make it happen.
Featured Image: John E. Sokolowski-Imagn Images