Why the Detroit Pistons Are Suddenly Must-Watch Basketball
.png)
In a recent episode of Harrison Talks Pod, I broke down one of the most surprising developments of the NBA season. The Detroit Pistons have gone from an afterthought to one of the most entertaining and chaotic teams you can put on your screen. This run is not a fluke, it is not cute, and it is not smoke and mirrors. It feels like the start of something real.
Let’s get into why Detroit has turned into a must-watch League Pass experience.
Last Night Told the Whole Story of Their Season
Detroit’s 129 to 116 win over Milwaukee was their twelfth straight victory, tying the third-longest streak in franchise history. It was also the perfect snapshot of what their basketball identity has become.
They shot 62.8 percent from the field and 53.3 percent from three. The shot quality has been elite for a month. They finished with 31 assists and only 14 turnovers, which shows a team playing with controlled aggression and purpose. They scored 56 points in the paint, created 30 points off turnovers, and completely dictated the style, the tempo, and the physicality.
Milwaukee shot 51 percent and still got handled. That should tell you everything. Detroit controlled the game in every possible way.
Cade Cunningham Looks Like a Real Franchise Star
Cade is playing the best basketball of his career and last night was the full display. He put up 29 points, 10 rebounds, and 8 assists on 55 percent shooting with 70 percent true shooting. He generated 72 total points which accounted for more than half of Detroit’s offense. Most importantly, he had zero turnovers in the fourth quarter.
He manipulated drop coverage, dictated matchups, punished switches, and controlled pace possession by possession. For the first time, Cade has spacing and smart veterans around him. His pull-up numbers are elite, his short-touch decisions are elite, and he is organizing the offense at a top ten level. This is the version of Cade Detroit has been waiting for since draft night.
Jalen Duren Has Become a Rim-Dominant Monster
Duren has turned into one of the most violent paint scorers in the league. He finishes 64.7 percent at the rim on massive volume. He is an elite lob target, an elite screen assist generator, and the physical tone-setter for the entire team.
He even had five assists last night, which shows real growth in his short-roll decision making. Every game features at least two or three plays where he looks like Orlando Dwight. That physicality sets the tone for everything Detroit does.
A Style Built on Rim Pressure, Possessions, and Chaos
The Pistons have quietly built a League Pass profile that is ridiculously fun. They are number one in points in the paint at 59.1 per game. They are number one in offensive rebounds. They are top eight in second-chance points, fourth in steals, and fifth in blocks. They have won eleven games by double digits during the streak and have had multiple nights scoring 120 to 130 points.
Their games swing on downhill attacks, momentum runs, and offensive rebounds. The whole thing feels fast, violent, and unpredictable. It is perfect television.
The Offense Is Not a Fluke
During the twelve-game winning streak, Detroit has averaged 119.4 points per game. They have multiple games shooting above 52 percent and even above 62 percent from the field. They have seven games with 120 or more and four games with 125 or more.
They do not take a high volume of threes, but the ones they take matter. The math backs them up. A 117.2 offensive rating ranks eighth in the NBA. They are top seven in field goal percentage and true shooting and top three in free throw rate. They are moving the ball with intent, posting a 61.7 percent assist rate that connects directly to their paint pressure. The numbers say this offense is sustainable.
They Beat You Up on the Glass and at the Rim
Detroit routinely grabs 13 to 16 offensive rebounds in a night. They have had rebounding totals of 52, 55, and 63 during the streak. Opponents give up 60 or more paint points, high offensive rebound percentages, and high foul totals.
The Pistons overwhelm teams with second and third chances. It is modern basketball mixed with mid-90s physicality and it is incredibly watchable.
The Defense Is Not Perfect, But It Is Entertaining
Detroit’s defense is not elite. It is chaotic and play-making, which is even more fun to watch. They rack up steals and blocks, they gamble and dig into ball handlers, they fly around the rim, and they push the pace off misses. You get deflections, transition bursts, and pure effort. For League Pass viewers, entertaining defense sometimes beats perfect defense.
Role Players Who Make This Team Fun
This streak is not just about Cade and Duren. The role players are real contributors.
Tobias Harris is the perfect veteran glue piece. He scored 18 on 7 of 9 shooting last night with a wild plus 56.7 net rating. He gives them spacing, cutting, and mid-post stability.
Duncan Robinson has become their movement shooting engine. He went 5 of 6 from three against Milwaukee and constantly warps the floor with his cutting and pindowns.
Ausar Thompson is an elite connector. He cuts at a high level, hits almost 39 percent of his threes off passes, and creates chaos with deflections and pace.
Daniss Jenkins is a low-mistake playmaker who had zero turnovers against Milwaukee and keeps their structure intact.
Javonte Green is an energy wing who brings real defensive impact and posted a plus 18 against the Bucks.
Jaden Ivey returned with 4 of 6 shooting and offers Detroit pure downhill burst off the bench.
These are not “just fill ins.” They are real reasons this team is fun.
Why They Are a Shockingly Great League Pass Team
Detroit plays angry. Their physical style feels retro. Their rim pressure creates massive swings. Cade controls tempo like a veteran star. Duren gives you multiple highlight explosions every game. Their defense is chaotic in the best way. Their bench injects energy that flips momentum. They overwhelm teams with a mix of pace, paint scoring, and rebounding. This is not a team you casually put on in the background. This is a team that demands your attention.
The Historical Weight of This Start
The Pistons are one win away from tying their franchise record for consecutive victories. The only longer streaks in team history ended in championships. Their young core is developing in real time. Their offensive profile looks sustainable. Their rebounding and paint scoring are repeatable every night. Cade and Duren look like a foundational duo. This does not feel like a one-month outlier. It feels like the beginning of something.
If you want the full breakdown, check out the recent episode of Harrison Talks Pod, where I went deeper on why this Detroit run is so fascinating.
.png)
.png)
Comments
Post a Comment