The Detroit Pistons enter the 2026-27 NBA season with a unified message: they are focused on themselves, not the noise. This comes after a summer where the Eastern Conference added massive star power, yet Detroit's 60-win core remains intact and motivated by a second-round playoff exit. The team tuned up with a 129-125 preseason win over the Toronto Raptors on October 16, showing off their offensive firepower ahead of the real test.
Cade Cunningham thinks so. The All-NBA First Team guard admitted after a recent practice that he feels the team is still "a little slept on." Despite winning 60 games and securing the East's top seed last season, the narrative has shifted to teams that made splashy acquisitions. Giannis Antetokounmpo, LeBron James, and Jaylen Brown all changed addresses this offseason, creating a reshaped conference landscape. Cunningham, however, sees a motivational edge in Detroit's underdog status, a mentality he links to the city itself.
That's a significant drop for a team that dominated the regular season. Coach J.B. Bickerstaff's response was blunt. "We don't really give a s- what everybody else is doing," Bickerstaff said. "The only thing that matters to us is what we do."
The sting of their Game 7 collapse at home against the Cleveland Cavaliers last playoffs fuels this group. Every key player from that roster is back, including All-NBA Third Team center Jalen Duren and Defensive Player of the Year finalist Ausar Thompson. They have a clear point to prove. Their preseason results were a mixed bag, with wins over the Phoenix Suns (109-107 on Oct. 5), Minnesota Timberwolves (128-106 on Oct. 14), and the Raptors, plus a loss to the Washington Wizards (114-108 on Oct. 10).
The front office did make targeted moves to address a specific need. Detroit acquired John Collins, Isaiah Joe, and Taurean Prince, three veterans who each shot over 40% from three-point range last season. This directly attacks a previous roster limitation. For the first time in Bickerstaff's tenure, the Pistons have four players-Cunningham, Duncan Robinson, Joe, and Kevin Huerter-who made at least 100 three-pointers last season. Prince has hit that mark in five of his ten NBA campaigns.
Cunningham explained the tangible impact this shooting will have. More floor spacing creates wider driving lanes and forces help defenders to travel further. "All of those things create advantages," Cunningham said. His job is to exploit those advantages, beat his man, and create open looks for his shooters. The symbiotic relationship is clear: better shooters give Cunningham more room to operate, and his playmaking gets them cleaner shots.
Jalen Duren is another beneficiary. With defenders stretched thin guarding the perimeter, Duren should find more room to operate in the paint and on the glass. The offensive system is designed to be more dynamic and less predictable than in years past. This upgraded firepower gives Bickerstaff legitimate confidence that his team can compete with anyone when they play "Pistons basketball."
The talking stops and the games count starting October 20. The Pistons host the Boston Celtics at Little Caesars Arena in a massive opening-night showdown. It’s an immediate opportunity to make a statement against a conference rival projected to finish ahead of them. After their strong preseason finish, the Pistons are ready to translate their internal belief into results that force the rest of the NBA to take notice.
