Detroit Pistons: 2017-18 NBA season preview
Predictions
They do not have the same high-end talent, but the parallels between this year’s Pistons and last year’s Wizards are impossible to ignore. Both young teams had promising campaigns two seasons prior, and both had hugely disappointing follow-ups.
Health, internal improvement, improved chemistry and coaching led the Wizards from 41 to 49 wins last year. The Pistons have many, though not all of the same ingredients.
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Internal improvement is likely. One of the most slept-on realities of basketball is that young players improve as often as old players decline, and every starter on this team will be 27 or younger (unless the 28-year-old Leuer starts).
It will be hard for the chemistry and health to be worse, though there is no guarantee they will be better. The most likely outcome is either a small uptick in both areas, or significant growth in one.
Van Gundy is back, so there will not be a Scott Brooks-esque boost there. With that being said, Van Gundy is a better coach than he has shown thus far in Detroit, and deserves some benefit of the doubt for one more year.
The Pistons are unlikely to experience the eight-win jump of last year’s Wizards, but six seems entirely fair. That will give them a 43-39 record.
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Washington, Toronto, Boston and Cleveland are virtual locks to finish in the 50s or high 40s. Milwaukee and Miami should improve on their respective 42 and 41-win outputs from last year, leaving Detroit and Charlotte as the top contenders for the No. 7 seed. The Hornets have fewer question marks, but given their deep-rooted difficulties in the clutch, we’ll give the edge to Detroit.