The Detroit Pistons’ Cinderella Rise – Why They’re Back on Top
From lowest to highest, the Detroit Pistons’ meteoric rise in the NBA ranks is a true rags-to-riches story. Two years after a woeful 28-game losing streak, the Pistons sit pretty at the top of the Eastern Conference. But how did they pull off this astonishing comeback? Let’s delve into three key factors driving their success.
The Pistons’ Dynamic Duo
Cade Cunningham, the franchise’s former No. 1 draft pick, is a known entity in the league. Over 13 games this season, he’s put up a whopping 27.4 points and 9.9 assists per game. However, it’s not just the star point guard propelling the Pistons’ surge. His big man counterpart, Jalen Duren, has also stepped up his game exponentially.
“Duren has gone from an alrightrebounder to an elite one — snatching 11.5 boards per game, with 4.2 of those coming on the offensive end,” said an NBA scout who chose to remain anonymous.
– NBA Scout, talking to 247Sports
Defensive Tenacity: The Bad Boys’ DNA Lives On
Source: Brett Davis-Imagn Images
The Pistons’ success can also be attributed to their aggressive, suffocating defense. They rank 4th in the league in goal percentage (43.9%) allowed and 3rd in blocks per game (6.1). The team’s high foul average (23.0 per game) and free throw frequency (28.7 per game) against them indicate their robust, in-your-face style of play. The Pistons’ aggressive defense echoes the fearsome “Bad Boys” era of the 90s.
Offense: More Than Just The Big Two
- Ten Pistons players are averaging more than eight points per game, with a solid contributions from players Duncan Robinson (14.2 PPG) and Caris LeVert (12.1 PPG).
- Young gun Daniss Jenkins (11.4 PPG)has provided crucial backcourt support in the absence of Jaden Ivey, who recently returned from injury.
Beyond the headline stats, the Pistons offense has proven to be well-rounded. This diverse scoring attack, coupled with an elite defense, has propelled the once-struggling franchise to the top of the NBA mountain.