Detroit Pistons: Are The Playoffs A Forgone Conclusion?
The Detroit Pistons have made quite the turnaround over the last 10 games, but are the playoffs a forgone conclusion at this point?
We know the narrative. We know what conference they play in. But are the Detroit Pistons really playoff-bound this season?
The Turnaround
In their last 10 games, after waiving Josh Smith, the Detroit Pistons are 9-1.
During that span, the Pistons have the second-best offensive rating in the NBA (110.1) and the second-best defensive rating (97.0), while beating opponents by an average of 12 points per game. Their only loss in the last 10 games came at the hands of the Atlanta Hawks (106-103).
And that’s not saying much, since the Hawks have been beating up on nearly everyone this season.
Interestingly, in the 28 games before Smith was cut, the Detroit Pistons ranked 28th in offensive rating (97.6) and 24th in defensive rating (105.8).
In essence, the Pistons were not good with Smith on the team. And that’s putting it nicely. However he was impacting the team, most likely negatively, it was so much so that it was masking this team’s potential and, as evidenced in the lat 10 games, success.
After removing that cancer from the locker room, the Pistons have flourished. WITH THE SAME EXACT ROSTER.
It’s quite amazing, when you really think about it.
Playoffs? Playoffs.
But even in very weak Eastern Conference, where teams that are currently six games under .500 would still make the playoffs if the season ended today, are the Detroit Pistons a shoe-in for the end of the season tournament?
Based on their last 10 games, you’d have to believe that to be so. However, we just don’t know whether their last 10 games, in which the Pistons have reeled off nine wins and one loss, are an aberration or if it’s the dawn of a new era in Detroit under Stan Van Gundy?
As currently sits in the Eastern Conference, the Pistons are only two games out of the No. 8 seed of the playoff picture.
And even if the Pistons do level off a bit after this red-hot 10 game streak, it should be fairly easy for Van Gundy’s boys to qualify for the playoffs in the Eastern Conference.
They’re going to have a healthy diet of East foes over the rest of the regular season. That alone should be enough for them to maintain their recent mojo for the foreseeable future. Of course, all of this hinges on whether this turnaround is rooted deeper than just the release of one player.
The Pistons still have a lot to prove. And with about 44 games left to play, they’re going to have the opportunities to do that.
The Verdict
In just the next handful of games, we’re going to find out a whole lot about these new-look Pistons. Of the team’s next eight games, Detroit is going to face six teams that have playoff aspirations of themselves: the Pelicans, Pacers, Hawks, Bucks, Raptors and Cavs.
We’re going to see if the Pistons can really continue this onslaught on the league, as they have been exhibiting over the course of their last 10 games.
Can they do it? The stats say yes. Statistically, the Pistons are playing better than nearly any team in the NBA right now. And if Brandon Jennings and Andre Drummond can continue their recent tear, they’ll be well on their way to postseason play.
Our brain should say no, though. It’s human nature to doubt a trend that has only been done for 20 days, and 10 games.
It’s a nice story, but if the Detroit Pistons are going to want to punch their ticket into the playoffs, they’re going to have to do more than simply play extremely well for 10, 15 or even 20 games. They’re going to have to prove that they’re for real, fixed day in and day out for the rest of the season.
The Pistons are playing uncharacteristically well right now, but I’m not sold on them yet.
And neither should you.
Next: The Raptors look to bounce back this week, continue to roll