Detroit Pistons: Worst potential playoff matchups for 2019

1. Boston Celtics

Following their 4-0 start, the Pistons’ first reality check of the season was a 20-point loss to the Celtics in which they were just thoroughly outplayed. Three nights later, Detroit lost a close game to Boston that came down to a bad turnover by Blake Griffin on an inbounds play.

Whether the losses are competitive or not in doubt, it seems like if these Pistons played these Celtics 10 times this season, they would find a way to lose every time.

All-Star point guard Kyrie Irving can feast on a team that doesn’t stop the dribble, seeing as he is arguably the best ball-handler in the league. He dropped 31 points in the Celtics’ second win over the Pistons.

In the first meeting, Irving took a backseat and only scored three points, and the Celtics still won easily. That’s because they are loaded on the wing with the likes of Jayson Tatum, Gordon Hayward and Jaylen Brown.

They also have tough defenders like Marcus Smart to counter Detroit’s playmakers, and skilled bigs like Al Horford and Marcus Morris who can at least hang with and possibly neutralize Drummond and Griffin.

Boston is just too deep, too versatile, too well-coached and too good defensively for Detroit.