Are the Detroit Pistons … too good? The level of competence has been refreshing all season, especially because it’s never truly led to an abundance of winning. For a team in the beginning stages of a rebuild, losing and securing a high draft pick — especially in such a vaunted draft year — is just what the doctor ordered. Now, though, the Pistons look better than ever and they’ve won two games in a row. There not a good team, mind you, but the battle at the bottom of the standings is fierce. The Minnesota Timberwolves are a mess (though they’re looking better under a new head coach). The Houston Rockets have lost 19 games in a row. The Orlando Magic are injury depleted and might sell all their remaining healthy veterans. The Cleveland Cavaliers have just an awful, awful defense. It’s tough for the Pistons to be worse than all that.
They are not and should not be favored against the Chicago Bulls tonight, but it wouldn’t shock me if they won. And then I might start sweating …
Game Vitals
When: 7 p.m. EST
Where: Little Caesars Arena, Detroit, Michigan
Watch: Fox Sports Detroit
Odds: Pistons +3
Projected Lineups
Detroit Pistons (12-29)
Delon Wright, Frank Jackson, Saddiq Bey, Jerami Grant, Mason Plumlee
Chicago Bulls (18-22)
Tomas Satoransky, Zach LaVine, Thaddeus Young, Lauri Markkanen, Patrick Williams