One of the most exciting aspects of the 2025-26 NBA season right now is just how unpredictable it is.
No one is quite sure which teams will take the top spots in their respective conferences.
Writing for Bleacher Report, Mo Dakhil made a case for the Detroit Pistons and said that JB Bickerstaff’s young squad could be one of the most thrilling in the whole league and could climb all the way to the top of the standings.
“The Pistons made a massive 30-win leap last year. New coach JB Bickerstaff established a culture and put a plan in place that saw them lose a tight first-round matchup to the New York Knicks. Cade Cunningham took a step forward in his development. He made his first All-NBA team (third team), averaging 26.1 points, 9.1 assists, and 6.1 rebounds. It might be a reach to think that Detroit can be a shock contender this season. But if Ivey can provide that production for a full season, Cunningham continues to ascend to stardom, and Ausar Thompson takes a leap, the Pistons have a chance to shock the world,” Dakhil wrote.
Obviously, a lot has to go right for this prediction to become a reality.
Bickerstaff’s plan would have to continue working, Cade Cunningham would need to keep developing, and players like Jaden Ivey would have to remain healthy.
But if all of that happens, the Pistons are a team to watch and should be considered a very serious threat.
Their turnaround last season was downright legendary, something not often seen in the league.
However, some people feel it’s premature to assume they are one of the best in the East.
They have to prove that last year wasn’t a fluke and that there is still room to grow.
It’s possible, but it won’t be easy, even with the Eastern Conference in such a weird and vulnerable place.
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