Detroit Pistons: Bold predictions for the 2017-2018 season
By Jack Ozark
4. Detroit ends the season as a six seed
The Pistons getting back into the playoffs is why I don’t think Drummond goes anywhere. Detroit won’t win 60 games, but they will be better than last year.
In my mind, there are currently five teams that are a lock for the playoffs in the Eastern Conference, (unless there is a major injury.) The Boston Celtics, Cleveland Cavaliers, Washington Wizards, Toronto Raptors and Milwaukee Bucks should all be a lock for the playoffs, and most like the top five seeds.
That leaves three spots for the remaining teams. The squads I see competing for these playoff berths are the Pistons, Miami Heat, Charlotte Hornets and Philadelphia 76ers. If I’m cutting one of those teams right away I’m going with the Sixers as Joel Embiid will probably play 12 games this year. (I hope that’s not the case though because he’s a fun player to watch.)
The Pistons are getting the nod here because they are more talented in my mind. The Heat were basically a day away from tanking last year before getting super hot. They rode this hot streak all the way to the end of the season. Unfortunately for them, the Chicago Bulls made the playoffs over them due to a tiebreaker. I don’t think they got any better this offseason, just the east got much worse.
As for the Hornets, they seem to be in a similar place as Detroit. They made the playoffs in 2016, only to fall last season. Kemba Walker is very good, but past him, the team doesn’t have much. I think he and company can get the Hornets into the playoffs, but just barely.
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Detroit’s new revamped roster may have some growing pains to start, but I think this year’s team is more talented than last year’s. That paired with a weaker conference should help Detroit get some easier wins. I think they are over .500 and thus earn themselves the six seed.