Pistons end of season recap and analysis
- ThatManChe
- May 6
- 6 min read
The Detroit Pistons had probably the best turnaround in NBA history this season. They went from 14-68 to 44-38 and pushed the Knicks to 6 games in one of the more competitive series we’ve seen. So many different people deserve credit for sparking this turnaround and just changing the culture of Detroit Basketball.
How it started
Last spring, Tom Gores fired Troy Weaver and Monty Williams for good reason after finishing 14-68. The Pistons then hired Trajan Langdon as President of Basketball Operations and then later hired J.B. Bickerstaff as head coach. Real Pistons fans remember how much of a disaster it was a year ago. Even when Trajan was hired, he and Tom Gores were late to the press conference, and if you were watching that day, you probably remember it, too.
The Regular Season
The Pistons started 0-4, and fans thought once again this team had not changed, and it was going to be another year at the bottom of the Eastern Conference. The Pistons then went on a 4-game win streak after that, and it helped set the tone. At that point, people may not have expected a playoff team but a solid team that could maybe sneak into the Play-In Tournament. January came around, and by the end of it, they were at .500, and after February, they were 33-27. This season was just an example of elite, steady improvement as the year went on. The Pistons finished the regular season at 44-38. If it weren't for the rocky start, they would have had a much better record, so it will be interesting to see them put it all together next season.
The Players
Without players, nothing happens, and this year these Pistons played some elite basketball, and a lot of players proved what they can be.
Cade Cunningham
Cade, ever since he was drafted, has been putting up very solid numbers. This year he just took his game to another level, averaging 26.1 PPG and 9.1 assists. Cade was the guy this year, and in a year where he needed to prove himself, he came through. With him still being 23 years old, he still has a lot of time left, hopefully, and will only continue to improve his game.
Malik Beasley
Beasley was another great story on the Pistons this season. The veteran sharpshooter played to his ceiling and was one of the best shooters in the NBA this season. This was a season for him where he really needed to prove himself and show that he can still be a very great NBA player. That is exactly what he did and will be in for a big payday this offseason, whether it be back in Detroit or somewhere else.
Jalen Duren
This year, Jalen Duren really proved himself as a big. Duren, who is still only 21 years old, averaged a double-double and simply played with grit and effort every night. If this man can continue to improve his scoring ability, whether it be just getting better down low or expanding his range, the sky is the limit for him. His development will be great to watch in the coming years.
Ausar Thompson
Ausar is someone who put his name on the map in this series. Ausar is the Pistons' lockdown defender, and he was an elite weapon for Detroit this season and will be for years to come. He just needs to become more efficient and effective on the offensive side of the ball. If he can do that, he will become a very solid NBA player.
Jaden Ivey
On January 1st, Jaden Ivey suffered a broken fibula and was out for the rest of the year. People were forgetting he was a vital piece offensively, and with him back in full strength next season, the Pistons could be even better, and so could he. He is nearly fully recovered and would have probably played in the 2nd round if Detroit was able to advance.
Tobias Harris
Tobias Harris is one of the greatest Pistons in recent years. He played for the Pistons in his early years, came back this year, and played a very solid role. Tobias will be right back next season, barring a trade, and as he should be, he clearly likes playing for the Pistons, so hopefully it continues.
The Higher Ups
These are the men who put all of this together and did their jobs to near perfection this season.
J.B. Bickerstaff
Bickerstaff was a guy who no one thought was a very good hire. People mostly labeled it as a hire that was okay but might need some time to pan out. The exact opposite happened, and J.B. had these Pistons in shape from the start of the year till the final buzzer. J.B. is someone who, in my opinion, is looking like a young Doc Rivers. A guy who has gotten to the playoffs plenty of times but hasn’t gone on a big run yet. Labeling him as a Doc Rivers-type of coach is not a bad thing at all. Doc is a guy who plenty of teams would love to have and is someone who has won a championship before. Expect J.B. to be right back next season and to coach solid basketball.
(Also, J.B. Bickerstaff should have 100% been the COTY.)
Trajan Langdon
The Pistons' President Of Basketball Operations did a great job this offseason putting the team together. Even he didn’t expect the results to be this good, as he stated throughout the year he stated that he wasn’t expecting the winning to come this quickly. Trajan has plenty of decisions to make this offseason with free agency, the draft, and some potential trades. It will be interesting to see if Langdon tries to maintain what they have or if he tries to go after a star player to pair with Cade and establish a second option on this team.
Tom Gores
Being an NBA owner doesn’t come with a lot of actual decisions other than hiring the right people, unless you’re Mat Ishbia. Tom Gores has done exactly what he needed to in the past year: he cleaned the house and took on Monty Williams' massive contract and buyout. Not many owners today in sports are willing to pay the kind of money that Gores had to do with Monty Williams. Gores may not be the best NBA owner by any means, but he has shown that he cares and wants his team to do well, and effort goes a long way. Hopefully, Tom Gores won’t need to worry about hiring a new GM or head coach for a long time, or at least anytime soon.
The Future
The Pistons have one of the brighter futures in the Eastern Conference, in many people's opinions. I believe that the Pistons, for as long as they have a healthy Cade Cunningham, are a guaranteed playoff team for the next 5 seasons. I’m not saying they will be a team that is a top contender year in and year out, but they will be a playoff team for years to come. Next season for Detroit, whatever happens to the roster, 2 things could occur. They could break through by getting a top 3 seed and becoming one of the better teams in the Eastern Conference. Or they could pull what the Orlando Magic did this season: fall off a little bit but still make the playoffs. If the Pistons were to fall off like that, it would be disappointing, but it is not the worst case; they will still be in the playoffs. It all depends on whether Cade can take his game yet again to another level and how the whole roster pans out going into next season, or if a big trade happens to get Detroit another star.
Overall Recap
This season should be remembered by NBA fans, and it will be by Pistons fans. This wasn’t just an ordinary turnaround; these Pistons this year brought back Detroit Basketball and what it means. Next year, if they can have a solid offseason by either returning players or adding some more talent, a deep run is going to be the ceiling. J.B. Bickerstaff helped bring back what it means to play for the Detroit Pistons and hopefully can continue to instill a tough, resilient culture like the Miami Heat have.
The future is very bright for the Detroit Pistons, and fans will hopefully have a competitive basketball team to look forward to watching for years to come. The work is far from over, but simply this year was an elite and rare step forward that teams in the NBA usually don’t make so quickly, especially one that won 14 games the season prior. Keep the Pistons on your radar this offseason, as plenty of things could happen with them.
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