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The Detroit Pistons are entering the final stretch of their schedule, and while their position as the No. 1 team in the Eastern Conference has never been more secure, the doubts about the playoff viability of this team only seem to be growing. It is rare that you see any article about the Pistons, about contenders, or about threats, and you don’t see folks handwaving Detroit’s chances in the playoffs. Whether that is a first-round upset at the hands of a new NBA darling (and legitimately dangerous team), the Hornets, a second-round upset via the new-look Cavs, or an Eastern Conference Finals loss at the hands of the big-market Celtics or Knicks. Let’s sort through the noise and dive into the latest trends.
1. Shooting
How many teams in today’s NBA could start a game 0-for-15 from three and still win comfortably? Maybe one or two, and it includes Detroit.
The Pistons are succeeding in a way many believed was extinct. While the league loads up on shooting and spacing, Detroit continues to score in gritty, physical ways — and more importantly, prevent points on the other end.
The tradeoff, of course, is perimeter shooting. Detroit’s identity is built around the rim, and that comes at a cost. After hovering around league average for much of the season, the Pistons now rank 26th in three-point percentage. Over their last four games, they’ve gone 32-for-126 (25.4%) from deep — and still won three of four.
That’s impressive. It’s also not sustainable through multiple playoff series.
As postseason defenses tighten and points at the rim become harder to manufacture, the question becomes unavoidable: Does Detroit have enough shot-making to survive when it matters most?
2. Is Duren a true No. 2?
Championship teams almost always share one trait: at least two All-Star–level players. Detroit has dominated the Eastern Conference largely with a collective approach behind Cunningham, but Jalen Duren is beginning to test whether that hierarchy needs redefining.
Over the past stretch, Duren has shown real flashes of being a legitimate second option. Before last night’s win in Orlando, he led the Pistons in scoring for four straight games, averaging 28.3 points, all alongside Cunningham. That’s not empty production — that’s shared offensive responsibility.
We saw how defenses sold out to stop Cunningham in last year’s playoffs, and he’ll be an even bigger focal point this time around. If Duren can consistently punish that attention — not just as a finisher, but as someone who can initiate offense — it changes Detroit’s ceiling.
The challenge? There aren’t many bigs who can truly function as a No. 2 without any perimeter game. Whether Duren can bend that rule may end up being one of the defining questions of Detroit’s postseason run.
3. Are the Spurs Detroit’s ultimate kryptonite?
This version of the East’s No. 1 seed is dominant — but not matchup-proof. And no team has exposed Detroit’s weaknesses quite like the San Antonio Spurs.
In last Monday’s 114–103 loss at Little Caesars Arena, San Antonio highlighted everything Detroit struggles with. The Pistons controlled the first half by hitting outside shots and capitalizing when Victor Wembanyama was off the floor. The second half told a different story.
Detroit’s offense stalled, rhythm disappeared, and Cade Cunningham was pushed into becoming a perimeter shooter — not where he’s most comfortable or effective. The Pistons went 7-for-36 from three, while San Antonio knocked down 18-of-40, a gap that decided the game.
Wembanyama disrupts Detroit’s rim-based identity in a way few players can. In a hypothetical Finals matchup, his presence alone would fundamentally alter how the Pistons play. It would be electric for the league — but from Detroit’s perspective, it’s probably a matchup they’d rather avoid.
We won’t have to wait long to see a rematch as Detroit travels to San Antonio on Thursday – this time they’ll have reinforcements in Isaiah Stewart.