The Detroit Pistons are an improved team from a year ago. The Detroit Pistons made the playoffs a year ago. It’s not crazy to think that the Pistons will find themselves back in the playoffs at the end of the regular season.
But that logic isn’t necessarily penetrating the collective wisdom of NBA watchers. That’s no surprise in wild offseason for the Eastern Conference that saw Durant and Irving in Brooklyn, Walker in Boston, Jimmy Butler in Miami, Al Horford in Philly, somehow the Orlando Magic became the darlings of the discerning NBA-watcher and doesn’t seem far behind.