Last updated: 9/30/2019
Last updated: 9/30/2019
Last updated: 9/30/2019
NBA Over/Under Regular Season Wins
Detroit Pistons - 28.5 wins
October 22, 2023
The Case for the Over
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After only playing in 12 games last season, Cade Cunningham could make a leap into an All-Star, as he reportedly looked really good playing for the Team USA select team over the summer.
The Pistons also added a couple veterans that could help them, as Monte Morris is a clear upgrade from Cory Joseph and Joe Harris could provide some much-needed shooting. With Morris, Harris, and the returning Bojan Bogdanovic and Alec Burks, the Pistons have some solid veteran role players to supplement their young talent.
Organizationally, the Pistons have not been a tanking team, and just found themselves in that situation the last couple years. Based on moves they have made like adding Morris and Harris (although the latter might have been more about draft capital), and not trading Bogdanovic and Burks, it sounds like trying to make improvements now is the plan.
Monty Williams should be an upgrade at coach, as he has a good reputation of connecting with players and installing a winning culture after what he did in Phoenix.
They could be this year’s version of the ’22-‘23 Orlando Magic – a team that was projected near the bottom but made some real improvements into a mid-30’s win team.
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The Case for the Under
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They won 17 games last year and had the point differential of a 21-win team. Are they really that much better?
Although they have some solid vets as noted above, they could just play young guys. If Killian Hayes and James Wiseman continue to get minutes, that could hurt them in the standings. Ausar Thompson is a great prospect but it’s unlikely he’ll help them win right away, as rookies rarely do. Jaden Ivey is still fairly raw going into his second season, and will likely get a lot of minutes. Continuing with two-big lineups could cause their offense to really struggle.
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Conclusion
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This line just seems too high. The Pistons should once again be one of the worst teams in the NBA, and those teams tend to finish in the low to mid 20s in wins. Other than possibly Hayes, I expect their young guys, and the semi-young Marvin Bagley, to get significant playing time. Even if those players make strides and gain some development, I don’t see it translating to many wins.