It was not that long ago that January as a die-hard Detroit Pistons fan meant a nightly pep-talk to come up with reasons to tune in to games in what was already inevitably a meaningless season.
In the years following Blake Griffin’s brief stint in the Motor City, this time of year is when fans see piling losses and start to take solace by obsessing over mock drafts more than the Central Division standings.
Of course, this is a new year. The Pistons have undoubtedly exceeded even their own expectations for what was possible this season and will more than likely participate in the postseason for the first time this decade.