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The Detroit Pistons have been struggling for the past few years and have made the playoffs only twice in the last 10 years, 2008-09 and 2015-16, both times getting knocked out in a clean sweep by the Cleveland Cavaliers.
Their current season has only been a bit better in comparison to their history in the playoffs in the past decade, and are currently doing well after a horrendous start. They are 32-31 in the Eastern Conference and are sitting at the 6th spot.
With this in mind, let us look at the playoff chances for the Detroit Pistons this season.
Positive Signs:
#1 Blake Griffin's resurrection
The Los Angeles Clippers decided to trade an overpaid, under-performing and injury-prone star in Blake Griffin last season and the Detroit Pistons decided to take a chance on the former All-Star, and boy has it paid off this season.
After an underwhelming finish to last season with a few injuries, Griffin has done some fantastic work in the off-season and has come out all guns blazing. He has been resurrected from the dead and his game too has changed a lot. He is averaging a career high 25.2 points a game, on a career high 6.8 3s a game. He is also grabbing 7.9 rebounds and 5.5 assists a game as well.
He is playing like a point-forward and teams are having a tough time in trying to keep up with him. He has barely gone down with an injury all season long too, missing just 2 games, citing rest. His rise this season was a shock to almost everyone, and the Pistons are seemingly benefiting from his form as he is carrying them on his shoulders towards the playoffs, which seems in the bag with how well he is playing.
#2 Andre Drummond's meteoric rise
Andre Drummond had been touted as one of the less sought-after centers in the league. He was plagued with issues like his free throw percentages, which were at an abysmal 38.3% for the starting 5 seasons. But last season, Drummond turned his career around, shooting a career high 60.5% from the free throw line and has also improved his game in the paint, along with becoming a more solid defender and rim protector, and he seems to have continued his great play last season this season too.
Barring a barren stretch for a few games, Drummond has been excellent support for Blake Griffin and the Pistons, emerging as the 2nd star for the team. Drummond is averaging a career high 17.6 points a game, along with 15.1 rebounds a game. He is also grabbing 1.7 steals and 1.7 blocks a game and makes amazing contributions to the team defensively for a big man. The Pistons need their twin towers firing on all cylinders if they want to make the playoffs this season.
Negative signs:
#1 Lack of good role players
The Detroit Pistons have 2 great stars in Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond that can lead the team to the playoffs. But every star needs good role players that can help the team with valuable contributions, whether in the starting 5 or off the bench. The Pistons lack such offensive or defensive juggernauts in the squad.
They have Reggie Jackson, Ish Smith and Jose Calderon as their point guards, with Ish Smith and Jose Calderon over 30 years old, while Jackson is an inconsistent performer at best. They lack good shooters too that can space the floor for the 2 big stars in the middle.
Players like Luke Kennard, Bruce Brown, Wayne Ellington, Langston Galloway among others, have failed to impress and hold down a starting berth of sorts. Their game changes on a day to day basis, which is just not what the Pistons need from their role players.
Apart from Thon Maker, who is still unproven, there are no viable centers or power forwards on the roster that can even try to replace Griffin or Drummond. This will affect their chances to both make the playoffs and stay in the playoffs once they get there.
#2 Young players are not stepping up
The young players on the Detroit Pistons, the ones they had a lot of their hopes pinned on, are just not stepping up when they are called upon.
Apart from some recent scoring by Luke Kennard, he has just not had a good start to his NBA career. In his 2 seasons, he has averaged just 8.4 points a game, along with 1.7 assists and 2.7 rebounds a game. Even though the Pistons staff are really high on him, he has been unable to hold down a spot in the starting 5, even when there is not much competition for it.
Thon Maker has not been given a lot of opportunities yet with this team, but he does not seem to be much different than when he was with the Milwaukee Bucks. Bruce Brown similarly has been a player that is there to fix a spot. He is averaging a lowly 4.6 points a game, with 1.3 assists and 2.8 rebounds a game.
Granted, these players do not get as many chances, but they still get minutes somewhere in the 20 minutes mark, and if they are still not able grab their opportunities, maybe the Pistons need to look elsewhere next season.
The Future:
The 2018-19 NBA playoffs:
The Detroit Pistons' biggest challenge in the near future is going to be to stay in playoff contention. The Pistons are currently 6th with a 32-31 record and are tied with the Brooklyn Nets, even though the Pistons have played lesser games. They need to keep their recent run going if they want to stand a chance this season.
The Miami Heat have played some great basketball of late and are right now in the 8th spot with a 30-34 record, just 2.5 games behind the Detroit Pistons. The Orlando Magic are 9th with a 30-36 record and are only 3.5 games behind the Pistons.
The Charlotte Hornets too are trying to push to make the playoffs, with a 29-35 record and are also 3.5 games behind the 6th placed Pistons. Lastly, the Washington Wizards are the dark horses to make the playoffs this season, with a 27-37 record and are 5.5 games behind the Detroit Pistons.
Playoff chances: 6/10
The Detroit Pistons have looked good of late and are surging up the standings with some great basketball. Blake Griffin and Andre Drummond have been carrying this team and will to continue their form to make sure the Pistons make it to the playoffs.
With Luke Kennard and Reggie Jackson hitting their stride as well, the Pistons have a good chance of making the playoffs, but a few bad games here and there can change the whole scene for the Detroit Pistons.
