The Pistons are exactly what the NBA needs right now

They're physical, they're imposing and, at times, they're bullies. It's a throwback style that appears to grate on some sections of the NBA fanbase. 

“Like they’re a championship city because the punching and the fighting and the bad-boy style overlooked the two (titles)," Gilbert Arenas said on the Monday episode of his podcast. "See the ‘04 wasn’t a bad boys team, they just were a great defensive team. This team is more like the bad boys style, which if no one noticed, that got quickly banned.”

The NBA needs a team like Detroit. Not because physicality can draw ratings or because too many talking heads have bemoaned a 'soft' league. Rather, the league is better when there are diverse styles of basketball. Detroit is winning (or losing) by playing its way. It's not trying to be the next Boston Celtics or Warriors. 

In the combat sports world, there's a common phrase that 'styles make fights.' That phrase rings true across all sports. It's far more entertaining to see two totally different brands of basketball go head-to-head. Players are forced to impose their style of play, and the competition level goes up a notch. 

Detroit's approach is far from optimal. It's a throwback style that likely has no long-term place in the league. Still, if the NBA is truly a copycat league, then perhaps more teams will take an individualistic approach. 

If you're tired of every team taking 40 to 50 shots from deep each night, the Pistons could be the team to usher in the next shift, a shift where everyone approaches things differently. That would be an NBA that could dominate the global ratings for years to come.