From 28 consecutive losses to 11 consecutive wins! In just three seasons, why can the Pistons rise so quickly? Establishing two cores + three important signings

In the NBA regular season, the Pistons and Hawks, two teams that have made rapid progress this season, met in a game. The game was extremely intense.

In the first half, the Pistons established a double-digit lead, but the tenacious Hawks caught up in the second half and once shortened the point difference to 2 points.

At the critical moment, Cunningham, the Pistons' top star, stood up and scored 4 points in a row, completely shattering the Eagles' dream of counterattack. In the end, the Pistons defeated their opponents 120-112, winning 11 consecutive victories and continuing to rank first in the Eastern Conference.

Out of the darkness, rebuilding the light

For a small ball market like the Pistons, any wrong decision will make it difficult for the team to turn around in a few years. In the 2023-24 season, they paid a painful price for each wrong decision.

They used a maximum salary to sign a coach who was not worthy of his name. As a result, in that season, the Pistons suffered the longest 28-game losing streak in team history and the league.

At that time, the entire team was filled with a strange atmosphere. When everyone thought that the Pistons would just suck, they staged a wonderful counterattack.

In just three seasons, they successfully got out of the shadow of 28 consecutive losses. They successfully reached the playoffs last season and are making great progress this season, with a record second only to the Thunder, which ranks first in the league.

So what is the secret to the team’s success? Let’s explore it together!

Have a unique vision in drafting and develop two cores.

The rise of the Pistons, the two cores of the team, Cunningham and Duren, played an irreplaceable role. Both of them were obtained by the management through the draft.

Cunningham was the No. 1 pick in 2011. After he joined the Pistons, the team gave him a very simple task. That is, regardless of the hit rate or the outcome of the game, let him have unlimited firing rights.

As a result, with such experience, Cunningham's hitting rate and statistics have steadily improved. More importantly, the accumulation over the past few years has made him very confident when shooting, and he has never been sloppy.

Even if there are a lot of irons in the game, he still shoots resolutely. In several games this season, he scored at critical moments to help the Pistons win.

After the offensive firepower stabilized, he began to connect the entire team. So far this season, he has averaged 9.9 assists per game, ranking second in the league.

After helping the team win against the Hawks, he averaged 32.5 points, 5.2 rebounds, 10.0 assists, and 1.7 steals in the past 6 games, which is a solid MVP level data.

After talking about Cunningham on the outside, let's take a look at Duren, the powerful inside player. In the 2022 draft, he was selected by the Hornets with the 13th pick in the first round, and then came to the Pistons in a trade.

Regarding the cultivation of this potential insider, the Pistons adopted a similar approach to Cunningham, which is to let him play freely in the game. While improving his experience, Duren also built up enough self-confidence.

So far this season, he has averaged 20.6 points, 11.9 rebounds (fifth in the league), and 1.1 blocks per game, making him Cunningham's best helper.

Three important signings helped the Pistons take off

"One hero and three gangs". Naturally, role players with outstanding abilities are indispensable beside the two core players. The Pistons' three major signings this summer have all played key roles in the new season.

Deng Luo, who came to the Pistons from the Heat, is a stable point on the outside for the team. He averages 3.1 three-pointers per game, ranking in the top 20 in the league.

More importantly, the arrival of Dun Luo has strengthened the Pistons' outside threat. It can help the team stretch space, and it can also force opponents to devote defensive power to him, alleviating Cunningham's offensive pressure.

The arrival of veteran LeVert gave the team a stable scoring point on the bench. He can use his game experience to help the young people on the team.

So far this season, he has averaged 9.4 points, 1.7 rebounds and 3.5 assists per game. He is the most stable scoring point on the team's bench.

Jawante Green, signed by the veteran with a minimum salary, is a very high-quality 3D striker, and he matches Cunningham's style of play very well and has produced good results.

These three signings plus the fully grown dual-core will bring about a qualitative change for the Pistons in the new season.