Surging Pistons put East on notice

This has been the story of the 2024-25 Detroit Pistons. A hard-nosed team that has routinely come through in the biggest moments due to the stellar play of their franchise superstar. And now, after five years of futility, they are poised for a return to the postseason. 

Everything went wrong that could go wrong for last year's Pistons team. The 2023-24 Pistons had an NBA-worst 14-68 record, which included a league-record 28-game losing streak and only ended up with the fifth overall pick in a relatively weak draft. But, despite all those circumstances, the Pistons have been able to turn it around and get back to the playoffs, due to the play of Cunningham and the stewardship of new head coach J.B. Bickerstaff. 

Bickerstaff, the former Cleveland Cavaliers coach, took over from Monty Williams and immediately installed a new culture that led the Pistons to their new winning ways. This season the Pistons have become one of the best defensive teams in the league, with the best defensive rating in the league since the All-Star break, and the third-best net rating since January 1, per NBA Advanced stats, only behind the Cavaliers and Oklahoma City Thunder (57-12).

Detroit is able to play this style of basketball because of the improved play by big man duo Jalen Duren and Isaiah Stewart holding down the paint and second-year wing Ausar Thompson locking up threats on the perimeter. 

However, the key to the Pistons' ascent has been the play of Cunningham. Detroit drafted Cunningham with the first overall pick in 2021, and after a few up-and-down years, Cunningham has burst onto the scene this season. The guard is averaging 25.6 points, 6.1 rebounds and 9.3 assists per game, third-best in the entire league, en route to his first All-Star selection. Cunningham's smooth perimeter game has unlocked Detroit's offense and led it back to contending status. He's the front-runner for the NBA's Most Improved Player award and has been playing at an All-NBA level this season. 

“Man, if you don’t know that by now, then not only are you not watching us, you’re just not watching basketball. He’s been the best guard in the NBA all year if you ask me.” Duren told The Athletic after Cunningham's game-winning shot Wednesday night. 

Cunningham isn't the only Piston in the awards conversation this year. Malik Beasley is putting up a strong fight for sixth man of the year, averaging 16.2 points per game while shooting 41.9 percent from three and constantly featuring in Detroit's closing lineups. 

While still only the sixth seed in the East, the Pistons are only one game behind the Indiana Pacers (39-29) for the fourth seed. If the Pistons overtake the Pacers they would be a top four seed for the first time since the 2007-08 season. 

With a mixture of tough defensive play and an offensive superstar who can create shots for himself and others, the Pistons look built for the playoffs. They are in a prime position to pull off a first-round upset and give the franchise its first playoff series victory in over a decade. Teams like the Pacers, Milwaukee Bucks (38-30) and New York Knicks (43-25), better watch out because it looks like there is a new era of Detroit basketball in the NBA.