3 Areas of Concern and Comfort for the 2026-27 Detroit Pistons

DETROIT, MI – The Detroit Pistons tipped off pre-season versus the Phoenix Suns with an exciting 109-107 win. Rookie Ebuka Okorie, who made his first shot attempt, sunk the game winner with a few seconds left. He also successfully defended the Suns last attempt to even things up or even win the game.

But it was preseason after all so we wont dive to deep into a game recap. Instead let’s jump right to what matters most for the hometown teams success ahead this season.

3 Areas of Concern

Size
- Jalen Duren didn’t play with Paul Reed starting in his place. It further exposed a potential lack of size. That is something that plagued them when the playoffs began last season. Despite having Tobias Harris and Isaiah Stewart who brought a gritty disposition to the front court, they were still overpowered when it mattered most.
- The Pistons didn’t do much to address size in the offseason. Although they did make what some consider lateral moves in acquiring John Collins and promoting Paul Reed, the consensus is it isnt enough to battle in a star studded eastern conference.
Rebounding
- They were losing the rebounding battle 58-36 with about 9 minutes left in the game vs the Suns. To be fair, Jalen Duren didn’t play. But again, we’ve also seen this team struggle winning that battle with consistency once the pressure turned up.
- Rebounding by committee with attention to detail from the wings will be crucial for this team to limit opponent second chance opportunities. It will also be critical for the Pistons to create second chance opportunities with rim pressure form players like Ausar Thompson and John Collins.
Bench Shot Creation
- While the Pistons did add more shooters, it remains to be seen the effects it will have on the bench. Do they have enough ball handlers that can consistently draw the extra help defenders to open up the outside shooting?
- When Cade Cunningham is sitting and the shots aren’t falling is when my concern will be at it’s highest for the Pistons. Despite expected improvements from Daniss Jenkins teams may decide to play him straight up with help from a weakside defender. Which makes it critical that he conitnue to make the right reads off the dribble drives. That is something Jenkins did well vs the Suns assisting on a couple three point makes by Ron Holland and Isaiah Joe.

3 Areas of Comfort

Cade Cunningham.
- Cade is the ultimate comfort. JB Bickerstaff alluded to his “greatness” at Pistons media day. “The best thing about Cade is you don’t have to challenge him to be great,” Bickerstaff said. “That’s why he is, who he is.”
- Cunningham is what unlocks everything with the way the team in currently constructed. The gravity he creates with the double and triple teams in addition to hedges puts pressure not just on defenses, but his teammates. They must make the shots this season especially after that was the clear cut targeted improvement by the front office during free agency.
Outside Shooters
- The Pistons took 36 attempts from behind the arc vs the Suns and they were pretty much all good looks. This is the single most important detail the team must get right to further unlock Cade and Duren’s pick and roll game as well as this teams ascent to the next level.
- With the additions of Isaiah Joe, while retaining Duncan Robinson and Keven Huerter the Pistons believe they have formidable shooting.
- The internal improvements of Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland become vitally important in this area to better take advantage of their two way potential. Thompson is an all-world defender and Hollands energy is unmatched. Neither can afford to have their minutes reduced for the Pistons to achieve post season success.
No backdown, All Grit, and Full Throttle Aggression.
- A lot was made about the fact this team lost a lot with Isaiah Stewart and Tobias Harris finding new NBA homes. Stewart had become synonymous with the teams toughness and Harris the experienced voice. But newcomer John Collins wasted very little time proving he brings a no backdown attitude to the front court.
- Collins and Phoenix Suns pest Dillon Brooks got into an altercation which observers believe Collins had the upper hand. It definitely caught the attention of coach Bickerstaff.
- “I love his toughness,” Bickerstaff said with a smile on his face. “To get into it seven and a half minutes into the game is right up the Pistons ally.”
- It was also good to see the aggression of former number 5 overall picks Ausar Thompson and Ron Holland.
- Thompson several times found ways to take advantage of space in the middle. A few times he was able to pull up and knock down the shot. And when the defense stepped up, he made the right reads to find the bigs slipping into the paint for a layup or foul call. Thompson finished a composed 5/8 on the night for 10 points.
- Ron Holland led the team in scoring with 14 points, knocking down 5 free throws on 8 attempts. Obviously you would like to see better of him from the line, but his ability to draw the fouls are a much needed skillset.