Detroit Pistons: Who will be their biggest rival in 2021-22?

Mar 26, 2021; Detroit, Michigan, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Sekou Doumbouya (45) and Brooklyn Nets forward Blake Griffin (2) stand at center court during a technical foul shot in the first half at Little Caesars Arena. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

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Pistons (Photo by Gregory Shamus/Getty Images) /

Detroit Pistons biggest rivals in 2021-22: 1. Brooklyn Nets

In the 2021-22 season, the Brooklyn Nets are the only candidate for the Pistons’ biggest rivals. Unfortunately, this rivalry should be entirely one-sided, considering that the Nets are one of the most talented teams in NBA history, but there’s bad blood here nonetheless.

One of the first things general manager Troy Weaver did when he took over last season was dump Bruce Brown on the Nets in a trade that is still a bit confusing 10 months later, and just a few months thereafter Blake Griffin ended up in Brooklyn after giving up $13.3 million in a buyout to get out of Detroit.

Whether it was acrimony or mere competitiveness, blood ran hot on both sides when the two teams met on March 13 last season. Griffin was at his frustrating best, drawing fouls and even an ejection from his former teammate Isaiah Stewart. Being put in a situation where they had to beat their former mentor who had turned on them, the young Pistons put up one of their best fights of the year before finally losing late.

Make no mistake, wins against Blake Griffin and the Brooklyn Nets next season would mean more to this squad than any other.

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