The Detroit Pistons are poised to be a playoff team next season. But former NBA champion Jeff Teague went as far as to consider them a threat in the Eastern Conference. When speaking about the Pistons on the “Club 520 Podcast“, Teague stated that they were a bigger threat to the Hawks than the Knicks by saying:
“I’m more worried about Detroit than them, to be honest. Cause they’ve got people that can guard Trae Young. They do. They got young athletes that can stay in front of Trae Young a little bit.”
The Pistons do have some impressive young defenders on their team. With players such as Ausar Thompson anchoring the wing defense, Detroit could certainly be a challenger to the new and improved Atlanta Hawks.
Still, the rest of the panel had doubts about the team’s ability to go up against the Orlando Magic, who have also become significantly stronger this offseason. While the others claimed that the Magic would beat the Pistons, Teague came to their defense and said:
“Nah, bro. None of them f***in’ with Cade. None of them rockin’ with Cade, at all… The Magic ain’t never won, bro. Why do you keep talking like they’re like that? Y’all about to start making me hate the Magic, bro.”
Teague, a former Hawks player himself, backed his team against the Magic, claiming that Atlanta had the experience of being in the Eastern Conference Finals. In comparison, the Magic have had a relatively poor record, having failed to make it past the first round since 2010.
Although both the Hawks and the Magic boast impressive roster strength, the Pistons are not a team to be overlooked.
Last season, Detroit showed tremendous signs of growth. Led by a talented young star in Cade Cunningham, the Pistons secured a playoff berth, only to go up against the New York Knicks in the first round.
Although they would face a first-round exit, the team showed tenacity and potential, stealing two games away from the third-seeded Knicks in the series.
The upcoming season will be an interesting one for the Pistons. The ESPN power rankings place them at 11th overall in the NBA, but there is enough evidence to suggest they could be better.
As a young team, their growth potential is tremendous. Under a coach like JB Bickerstaff, the Pistons’ rotation players are bound to become more effective.
The biggest factor that could dictate success for them will be Cunningham’s growth as a player and a leader. Last season, the 23-year-old earned his first All-Star selection and ended the regular season with an average of 26.1 points, 6.1 rebounds, and 9.1 assists.
Cunningham has displayed the ability to bring the best out of his teammates. With the right adjustments and the necessary support, he and the Pistons could undoubtedly be a threat in the East.
The only concern with Detroit is whether they will have the roster depth to compete against some of the best in the East. With some key players leaving the team, the Pistons may need to bring in more reinforcements to bolster their overall roster strength.
