The Detroit Pistons head into the holiday season as high as the franchise has been in decades. But things can quickly go downhill for the Motowners, who haven’t made the postseason in consecutive seasons since the late 2000s. So, here is a look at some Christmas Wishes for the Pistons.
Detroit Pistons 6 Christmas Wishes
Detroit sits atop the Eastern Conference with a 20-5 record, marking the first time the Pistons have been in the top 2 of the conference since 2007-08. The Pistons have also matched their second-best start in franchise history, behind only the 2005-06 squad, which was 22-3 through the first 25 games. That 2005-06 team went on to win a franchise-record 64 victories, though they fell to Boston in the Eastern Conference finals.
Pistons Continue Strong Road Play
This is more of a here-and-now Christmas wish. Detroit has been one of the best road teams in the NBA, posting an 8-3 record and a +4.6 scoring margin. But the Pistons begin their longest stretch of road games on the season, with seven of their next eight being away from Little Caesars Arena.
The Pistons head to Boston tonight and then go to Dallas on Thursday. After hosting Charlotte on Saturday, the Pistons head out for a season-high five-game road trip over Christmas. The Pistons begin the five-game West Coast trip with back-to-back affairs at Portland and Sacramento on December 22 and 23. Then, after Christmas, they are in Utah (Dec. 26) and Los Angeles for games against the Clippers (Dec. 28) and the Lakers (Dec. 30).
Detroit is 5-0 against Western Conference foes. While the Celtics and the Lakers are the only teams that the Pistons will face with a winning record, they have been tripped up twice by squads with a sub—500 record. With the Pistons holding just a two-game lead over New York, a couple of unexpected slip-ups could send the Pistons spiraling down the standings.
Health and Continuity for the Core
Detroit has been relatively healthy this year. Tobias Harris is the only starter to miss more than five games, though he has been absent 10 times. As a result, JB Bickerstaff has already used nine different starting units, with his most common first unit appearing in 12 games.
The good news is that the Pistons are healthy as they enter this Christmas stretch. Jaden Ivey, who is still working his way into basketball shape, returned 10 games ago while Marcus Sasser just returned to action two contests. Overall, six players are averaging double-figures, and 12 of the 13 players who have played at least 10 games are averaging at least six points a game.
The Pistons are a well-balanced, deep squad that ranks among the top 10 on both ends of the court. Cade Cunningham is having an MVP-type season, though his efficiency has slipped a little from a year ago. Jalen Duren has really taken off offensively this year, scoring in double-figures in 19 of 22 appearances, including six 20-point games and three 30-point contests.
The Wish: The Pistons don’t sustain any huge injury, and their main core — Cunningham, Ivey, Duren, Sasser, and Ausar Thompson — will not miss time over the next 40 contests.
Trade For A Reliable Stretch Big Man Or A High-Volume Wing Shooter
In a vacuum, Detroit’s biggest need is three-point shooters. While the Pistons are shooting 35.6% from the 3-point line, they rank 28th in the league in 3-pointers made (11.2) and 3-point attempts (31.6). Duncan Robinson is the Pistons’ only true sniper, though Caris LeVert, Harris, and Ivey are reliable. Cunningham is a high-volume 3-point shooter who has knocked down 1.9 threes per game at a 33.6% clip throughout his career.
Troy Murphy III and Lauri Markkanen would be ideal fits, but the Pistons are unlikely to mortgage their future at this point, and there is no definitive word that the Pelicans or Jazz are willing to trade their players.
Of the two players, acquiring Murphy would likely be the Pistons’ preference given his defensive ability this season. If the Pelicans were willing to ship Murphy to the Pistons for Harris’ expiring contract, Sasser, and three or four first-round picks (2026, 2028, 2030, 2032), then they should make the deal.
However, Bobby Portis or Nikola Vučević probably makes the most sense for the Pistons. Portis would likely be a better fit for the Pistons. For a dirt-cheap option, Utah’s Svi Mykhailiuk would probably fit the bill.
Malik Beasley and Buddy Boeheim are two other names worth mentioning. Beasley has been in limbo since gambling allegations were levied and is reportedly playing in Serbia. Meanwhile, Boeheim, who has yet to prove he can shoot in the NBA, is a member of Oklahoma City’s G-League squad.
Reason for the Wish: Acquiring another shooter would open up the floor for five-out lineups and inverted pick-n-rolls.
Win at least 1 Playoff Series
While the East is certainly wide open, the Pistons are likely a year away from being a true title contender. But will have to see how the rest of the regular season plays out. So, the Pistons’ goal should be to finish in the top-6 of the conference. Then advance to the Eastern Conference semifinals, thereby ending a four-year postseason streak of being knocked out in the first round, for the first time since 2007-08.
Other Christmas Wishes
- Jaden Ivey or Sasser becomes a trustworthy closer.
- Ausar Thompson develops into a two-way star.
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