Detroit’s franchise-tying 13-game win streak placed them alongside some of the greatest teams in Pistons history, reigniting a fan base and commanding league-wide attention in the process.
The Detroit Pistons
haven’t come crashing back down, but the past week has carried a hint of dissatisfaction when measured against the electric start to the season. And however you may feel about the NBA Cup, advancing to the next round for the first time in its three-year existence would have been a meaningful validation of this team’s rise.
So let’s break down some takeaways from the past week in Detroit.
1. Cause for concern?
Since the Pistons’ win streak ended, they’ve dropped three of their last five games — all within just a few points. It’s still far too early to draw major conclusions or raise any red flags about the team’s direction yet.
Detroit is still recalibrating. Multiple players are returning from injuries, and the rotation is adjusting to a roster that suddenly has more mouths to feed. Opponents have also stopped taking the Pistons lightly; instead of circling them as an easy win, they’re preparing for the top seed in the East.
There’s also an intangible element at play. The edge and urgency that fueled the streak seems to have dipped ever so slightly. The motivation to keep something historic alive is gone. Opposing teams are focusing heavily on clogging the paint, throwing more zone looks at Detroit, and surrounding Jalen Duren with bodies to limit Detroit’s interior dominance.
Earlier in the season, plenty of teams were still figuring out their identities while Detroit already knew what it was which was a big advantage. Now the challenge shifts: sustain success, absorb adjustments from opponents, and find multiple ways to win.
2. ATL/DET playoff matchup would be cinema
I’d love to know how many NBA games this season have ended with both teams under 100 points. Monday’s 99–98 Pistons win over the Hawks was gritty, grimy, and downright ugly — but for fans who appreciate defensive battles, it was beautiful.
Detroit shot just 19% from three, committed 23 turnovers, yet dominated the glass with a 60–34 rebounding advantage that likely swung the outcome.
Atlanta mirrors Detroit in a lot of ways: both teams lean on defense, physicality, and versatility. A playoff series between these two would have the same bruising, heavyweight feel as last year’s Detroit–New York matchup. It would be war in slow motion — and must-see TV.
The Hawks are expected to get Trae Young back soon, and his return could reshape their style, but many smart basketball minds believed in this team before the season. There’s still time for them to validate that optimism.
3. Ivey is still limited
The sample size remains small for Jaden Ivey, who is returning from a season-ending leg injury, and Detroit has taken a cautious approach reintegrating him into the lineup.
Across seven games, he’s averaging 8 points on 41.3% shooting while playing just 14.3 minutes per night. But in last night’s game against Milwaukee, he logged a season-high 19 minutes, posted 15 points, and grabbed six rebounds — a sign that JB Bickerstaff may be ready to ramp up his usage.
The real question isn’t whether Ivey can return to the level he was playing at pre-injury. It’s how his style fits into this Pistons team — a first-place group built on discipline, defense, and role clarity.
Caris LeVert and Dannis Jenkins were thriving as primary scoring options while Ivey was out. Now roles shift again. Ivey won’t just return to the rotation — he’ll take on a much more prominent role.
And the biggest question of all: does the Ivey-Cunningham backcourt ultimately work long-term, and does it translate to winning?
We’re finally going to find out.
