Detroit Pistons: 3 big questions heading into 2018-19 NBA season

3. Will the Pistons make the playoffs?

The Pistons have missed the playoffs in eight of the last nine seasons, and haven’t won a playoff game since 2008. The team’s last postseason appearance, in 2016, ended in a four-game sweep in the first round at the hands of the eventual NBA champion Cleveland Cavaliers.

Detroit’s blockbuster trade for All-Star power forward Blake Griffin in February was intended to push the team back into the postseason immediately — which could have saved former coach/president Stan Van Gundy’s job — but they still fell short of the 8-seed in the East and finished with a 39-43 record.

Griffin is now on board for a full season in Detroit, he’s paired with All-Star center Andre Drummond, and the duo is playing for a new head coach, Dwane Casey, who owns an NBA championship ring and hasn’t missed the playoffs in five years.

The postseason is an entirely realistic goal for the Pistons. It helps that there’s a potential vacancy in the East for a new playoff team; the reigning conference champion Cavs have plummeted down most preseason power rankings after losing LeBron James in free agency.

One key to the Pistons’ possible playoff return is the health of starting point guard Reggie Jackson.

Two years ago, Jackson averaged 18.8 points and 6.2 assists per game for that Detroit playoff team, but that was the last time he was consistently healthy. He has since suffered through two injury-plagued seasons, missing 66 of a possible 164 games with knee, thumb and ankle injuries.

When Jackson is on the court, the Pistons are much better than when he’s not. Last season, the team went 27-18 when Jackson played, and 12-25 when he sat out.

Griffin’s presence and production will obviously go a long way in facilitating the Pistons’ return to the postseason sooner than later, but Jackson is the X-factor.

Prediction: Detroit will make the playoffs