Pistons
The Pistons have won four in a row on the road and look like a different team under coach J.B. Bickerstaff. So they get an “A,” from ESPN’s Kevin Pelton.
“The Pistons surpassed last season’s win total by Jan. 1 and aren’t content with that. Detroit is in the top six in the East, which would guarantee the Pistons’ first playoff appearance since 2019,” Pelton wrote. “Cade Cunningham‘s development, aided by better shooting around him, makes this seem more sustainable than any other Detroit success in decades.”
There, of course, is still some room for growth.
“Jalen Duren stepping into a larger offensive role would be a positive,” Pelton wrote. “Only Cunningham and guard Jaden Ivey (sidelined by a fibula fracture) are younger than age 28 among the team’s top five scorers.”
- Detroit could potentially try to make some trades to help with its playoff push. It’s been quite a great NBA story for a team that lost 28 straight last season. (Related story.)
Rockets
Houston is another squad that’s exceeded expectations. So the Rockets also received an “A.”
“Following in the footsteps of the Oklahoma City Thunder, the Rockets went from fun up-and-comer to competing for home-court advantage in record time,” Pelton wrote. “Houston ranks in the top 10 in offense and defense with the NBA’s fifth-youngest roster, weighted by minutes played. Alperen Sengun could become the team’s first All-Star since Russell Westbrook and James Harden in 2020.”
The Rockets could still get better, too.
“If Jalen Green can keep up anything approaching his 27.0 points per game in January on 46.3% 3-point shooting, the Rockets will become much tougher to stop,” Pelton wrote.
Clippers
What about the Clippers? Do they deserve high marks? Some around the league have told Hoops Wire that if the Thunder don’t make it out of the West, the other LA team could be a reason why.
“Expected to contend for the play-in at best after Paul George‘s departure, the Clippers have instead used a breakthrough campaign from Norman Powell and veteran depth to stay in the West’s top six with Kawhi Leonard sidelined,” Pelton wrote. “With Leonard back in the lineup, the Clippers can solidify themselves as contenders — but only if he can return to form.”
That’s fairly accurate, and when it comes to Leonard, that is a big if. But no one probably expected the Clippers to be in the Finals conversation. Yet here we are.
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