National Basketball Association

Five biggest games for the Detroit Pistons in 2016-17

Published Jun. 30, 2017 6:28 p.m. ET

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Just a month away from the beginning of the NBA preseason, join us as we preview what look to be the five biggest games for the Detroit Pistons in 2016-17.

We are tantalizingly close to basketball being played once again, just about a month shy of the first Detroit Pistons‘ preseason game on the road against the Brooklyn Nets. Naturally, in a post about the Pistons’ five biggest games this season, this will be the last reference to the Nets.

The 2016-17 season comes with expectations the Pistons haven’t had placed on them in almost a decade. The Pistons are expected to get into the playoffs this season, and they’re expected to compete for a spot in the top half of the bracket and even advance.

The Pistons will have to step up and deliver if they’re going to achieve these goals, but optimism is in the air. Thanks to the way they competed against some of the best teams in the NBA last season, this is a team that knows it can beat anybody. As a result, we’ll get to see some rivalries develop and grow in 2016-17.

Let’s take a look at the five biggest games on the Pistons’ schedule, at least at this early date.

San Antonio Spurs

The Pistons will visit the San Antonio Spurs on February 10th in what is always a big road test. The Spurs may take a step back this season as their core gets another year older and Tim Duncan has retired, but we’re still talking about the Spurs here. They have a vaunted home court advantage, and the Pistons have struggled in San Antonio historically. Pencil this one in as a major test for the Pistons’ ability to compete with NBA powerhouses.4

Oklahoma City Thunder

There is suddenly no love lost between the Oklahoma City Thunder and the Detroit Pistons. Russell Westbrook and Kevin Durant were happy to see supposed malcontent Reggie Jackson shipped out of town to the Pistons a couple of years ago, and Jackson was particularly pleased to beat them at the Palace of Auburn Hills last season. The Pistons will welcome the Thunder (minus Durant, of course) to the Palace on November 14th as the rivalry renews. Expect Westbrook to get a raucous greeting from a (hopefully) full house.3

Chicago Bulls

The Chicago Bulls are widely accepted as being worse this season than last. Regional rivalries don’t go away just because one team took a step back though. The Bulls lost Derrick Rose, Joakim Noah and Pau Gasol, and brought in Rajon Rondo, Dwyane Wade and Robin Lopez. They don’t make a lot of sense on paper as a roster, but they’re the Bulls. The Pistons should have a big advantage in this one as they travel to the United Center on December 19th.2

Golden State Warriors

One of only a handful of teams to beat the 73-9 Golden State Warriors in 2015-16, the Pistons will welcome the mighty Dubs to the Palace on December 23rd. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope gave Stephen Curry and Klay Thompson fits in both matchups a season ago, and you can expect him to be unleashed on the Splash Brothers once again. Of course, the Warriors have upgraded the small forward position, bringing Kevin Durant into the fold.1

Cleveland Cavaliers

The Pistons will play the defending champion Cleveland Cavaliers for the first time on the road on November 18th. Stanley Johnson will get his first shot at LeBron James since the Cavs swept the Pistons in four hard-fought games on the way to the first title in franchise history. The Pistons went 3-1 against the Cavs in the regular season last year, which indicates that the Cavs are certainly beatable when they’re in regular season cruise-control. The feisty Pistons might get the Cavs’ best shot though. Keep an eye on this one.