Detroit Pistons: Worst potential playoff matchups for 2019
By Amaar Burton
If the Detroit Pistons make it back to the NBA playoffs in 2019, there are a few teams they won’t want to run into.
After starting the 2018-19 season with four straight victories, the Detroit Pistons have lost four games in a row. Suddenly, all the optimism and excitement generated in the first week of the schedule had melted down into doubt and cynicism among the Motor City fanbase.
Three of the Pistons’ four losses have been to teams that are considered serious contenders in the Eastern Conference: the Boston Celtics (twice) and Philadelphia 76ers.
Meanwhile, three of their four wins came against teams widely projected to miss the playoffs: the Brooklyn Nets, Chicago Bulls and Cleveland Cavaliers.
That doesn’t look too good for a team that’s attempting to make it back to the playoffs for the first time since 2016, and for just the second time since 2008.
Judging the Pistons against the best the East has to offer is fair when attempting to predict not only if they can make the playoffs, but also what they can do if they get there.
So far, it’s becoming clear that there are certain East teams that would give the Pistons problems should they meet in the 2019 NBA Playoffs. Here are four squads Detroit would be lucky to avoid.