The NBA Playoffs are (kind of) here, and the Pistons open Sunday against whoever survives the Magic\/Sixers\/Hornets play-in on Friday. This isn\u2019t a full preview, just some thoughts and observations ahead of the Pistons\u2019 biggest postseason in 19 years.<\/p>\n
I\u2019m not concerned with the Play-In
The Pistons are the No. 1 seed for a reason. None of Orlando, Philly, or Charlotte should scare you.<\/p>\n
Detroit went 9-2 against that trio this season, and one of the Orlando losses came last week without Cade Cunningham, Tobias Harris, Duncan Robinson and Isaiah Stewart.<\/p>\n
Charlotte is volatile because of their shooting, but that kind of 3-point variance is more dangerous in a one-game setting than a seven-game series. It\u2019s hard to see them staying hot over the course of a playoff series.<\/p>\n
Philadelphia, for now, doesn\u2019t have Joel Embiid. Tyrese Maxey is still an All-NBA dude, but the rest of the roster lacks punch. Even if Embiid returns, he\u2019s not the same guy who tormented the Pistons during his MVP era.<\/p>\n
Orlando is just\u2026 off. The talent is there, but between the late-season slide, the Paolo Banchero situation, and locker room noise, it\u2019s hard to take them seriously. Vibes are badddddd.<\/p>\n
Detroit should handle this series in five games. Not a sweep, but a gentleman\u2019s sweep.<\/p>\n
Are Detroit sports fans a little damaged?
There\u2019s a weird level of local skepticism around this team.<\/p>\n
Nationally, sure, I get it. No. 1 seeds without a deep playoff track record always get a side-eye. But locally? It feels like people are bracing for disaster.<\/p>\n
Maybe it\u2019s last year\u2019s Tigers collapse or the Lions\u2019 flameout over the past two years, but there\u2019s a lot of \u201cthey could lose to Charlotte\u201d or \u201cthere\u2019s zero chance they make the Conference Finals.\u201d<\/p>\n
It\u2019s just odd. I\u2019m not going to sit here and tell you I think the Pistons will win the title (they won\u2019t) nor that they\u2019ll make the Finals (they might), but this isn\u2019t a team walking into the playoffs blind.<\/p>\n
They got their playoff indoctrination last year. That matters.<\/p>\n
A shorter rotation is coming
I caught a lot of flak on Twitter recently over this, but I think the Pistons are going to cut down their rotation come Sunday. We\u2019re not going to see 10-11 guys playing.<\/p>\n
Maybe we will if the series isn\u2019t close, but if it\u2019s a real, down-to-the-wire series, we\u2019re going to mostly see the starters playing more with Ron Holland, Daniss Jenkins, Stew and Kevin Huerter carrying the load off the bench.<\/p>\n
This scheduling is weird
Boston and San Antonio, the No. 2 seeds, will know their opponent for Sunday\u2019s Game 1s by the end of the night.<\/p>\n
The No. 1 seeds won\u2019t know until Friday night.<\/p>\n
That\u2019s a little wack. The top seed still gets home court and an easier path on paper, but the play-in muddies that advantage a little bit. It\u2019s not a huge deal, but feels like a quirk the NBA should look at.<\/p>\n
It\u2019s Jalen Duren\u2019s time
Duren took the leap this year.<\/p>\n
Made the All-Star team, likely making All-NBA \u2014 should but won\u2019t win the Most Improved Player award \u2014 but I think there\u2019s still more to come.<\/p>\n
Detroit will need his offense in these playoffs, but the real swing is his defense. If he can hold up on switches in the playoffs as he has in the regular season, it makes a deep run possible. He had moments against the New York Knicks last year, but struggled overall on D. I think he\u2019s going to click on both ends this year.<\/p>\n
If it\u2019s Charlotte, he should dominate. Same against Philly sans Embiid. Even against the Cleveland Cavaliers in the second round, the numbers are hard to ignore: 21.7 points and 12.3 rebounds vs. Evan Mobley and Jarrett Allen this season, including 28.5 points and 15 rebounds per game in two matchups after the All-Star break.<\/p>\n
He\u2019s a mismatch and massive advantage for Detroit.<\/p>\n
Three X-Factors
I couldn\u2019t pick one, so you get three and a half very important dudes:<\/p>\n