The Pistons are the kings of silence in the NBA

ByDavid Mitchell
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Detroit Pistons Sail towards El Dorado on a clear route. The lights, the noise, the looks are taken by others, but the roar and vibration are beginning to be a constant in the Motor City.

It’s that Detroit, The franchise that had 14 wins and 68 losses in 2023-24, today has 13 consecutive victories, the best streak in the NBA and a fantastic 15-2 record which allows them to be the best team in the East and the second best in the competition behind the Oklahoma City Thunder.

It would seem that this is the logic of the league in the last five years: know how to lose and then be able to win. It’s not about a revolutionary draft pick like Victor Wembanyama, it’s not about a shock policy like when the Miami Heat brought the talents of LeBron James to South Beach to join him with Dwyane Wade and Chris Bosh, but rather it’s about processes. In the culture of egoism that we live in today, in the vertigo with which content is consumed by sliding thumbs at Formula One speed, Basketball continues to be fertile ground for nature: for the fruit to find the right ripening, you have to know how to wait for it..

On those fateful Pistons, there were Cade Cunningham and Jalen Duren. We are not talking about new people, we are in the presence of a lesson for everyone: a defeat or a triumph does not define you. If you try and fail, then you have to try again. Go, go and go until the wall breaks.

Today Cunningham and Duren are the third duo that best plays the pick and roll in the entire NBA. Ball holder and curtain in sequence, in a continuous symphony that is worth following closely. The statistics department informs us AM850 that in direct screen plays they average 12.4 points per game. Only Jamal Murray with Nikola Jokic (13.2) and Luka Doncic with DeAndre Ayton (13.3) surpass them.

But this is not a two-way thing. There was a change of coaches, today JB Bickerstaff is there and the focus is on expanding the rotationextend responsibilities and focus on basic aspects of the game. In attack, they have gone old school: attacking the paint. Detroit leads the NBA with 59 points per game in that areasomething that was a problem before. Two seasons ago they only made 50 and were in 17th place in the competition.

The other is choosing the right shots. Only the Oklahoma City Thunder do better, but they are second in that section and in the season of misfortune, they were twenty-third.

A while ago, the focus was on triples. The Stephen Curry phenomenon advanced like a contagious virus in all franchises, but many forgot about the quality of the shots. Only Chef could do what he did and it took a while for the rest to catch on. The three-pointer at maximum speed, without feet planted on the ground, running until the 48th minute of games will go with Curry. What he does is the stuff of geniuses and it is better not to try it at home. Or on their teams.

The winning groups today learned to fall, they focus on the quality of the shots and above all things they defend. They rely on intensity. Don’t you believe me? The Thunder have the best efficiency in the NBA (101.6 points per 100 possessions) and the Pistons are second (108.1). In attack, Detroit is tenth (114.8 points per 100 possessions) but in its winning streak it crossed the border of 110 scored, equaling the third longest string of victories with such an effective and efficient attack.

Cunningham is the star of the Pistons, but beyond his fantasy numbers that include seven consecutive double-doubles in the last few games, the success is not in him. That world no longer exists. The stars help, but no one wins for a player. We love to see them shine, their plays seduce us, the highlights travel the world, but – luckily – the teams triumph. Basketball for the common good in which everyone does a little to achieve success. The sum of the parts: no player is better than all of them together.

Cunningham stands out for his size in setting up the game. He’s huge for an average point guard, and he’s also very strong. Play from the front from the axis but take the opportunity to also destroy the post with your back. He is the best NBA player that few know, or rather that most ignore. Motor-Cade is what happens while the rest of the NBA fans are busy making other plans.

Ausar Thompson It is balance and intensity on both sides. Jaden Ivey and Tobias Harris They are already back. And the rest of the structure knows very well what it has to do: Daniss Jenkins, Caris LeVert, Ronald Holland II, Isaiah Stewart and the newcomer Duncan Robinson. There are no superstars but together they are a closed fist that hits the jaw of anyone who tries to challenge them.

The Pistons’ 2025-2026 streak matches two famous ones they had in previous eras. That of the team of Isiah Thomas, Joe Dumars and company in 1989-1990, and that of Chauncey Billups, Rip Hamilton and Rasheed and Ben Wallace in 2003-2004. An interesting fact? Both retro versions of Detroit were NBA champions.

It is premature to talk about titles, but without a doubt this team is exciting. With more men than names, and with an East downcast due to the injuries of Jayson Tatum in the Boston Celtics and Tyrese Haliburton in the Indiana Pacers, a new sheriff is being sought in town.

Will the Pistons be the ones to storm the Conference and put the badge on their chest? We are still in the realm of hypotheses. Conclusions, of course, need time, but the signs are very encouraging.

David Mitchell
David Mitchell

As a passionate sports journalist with over a decade of experience, I strive to uncover the heart and soul behind every game. Supported by a dedicated team of fellow enthusiasts and storytellers, I am committed to delivering insightful and engaging content that connects fans worldwide. Together, we celebrate the victories, challenges, and unifying spirit of sports through every article we craft.