The Detroit Pistons, who had the NBA’s worst record last season, are still searching for their first win of the 2023-24 campaign. However, there are signs of improvement. The Pistons, who will face the Miami Heat on Monday night, are 0-3, with their losses coming against playoff teams from last season, including the reigning champion Boston Celtics. Two of their defeats were by six points, and the third by 12.
On Saturday, the Pistons led the Celtics 112-106 with just over five minutes remaining, but an 8-0 run by Boston resulted in a 124-118 loss. A long-standing issue for Detroit has been closing out games. This season, they average 30.3 points in the first quarter but only 22 in the fourth.
Despite this, Pistons forward Isaiah Stewart remains confident in his team. This season, they added 6-foot-5 shooting guard Tim Hardaway Jr., son of the former Heat star, who is averaging 10.7 points. The team is also under new management, with former Duke star Trajan Langdon as the new president of basketball operations and J.B. Bickerstaff as coach. Bickerstaff previously led Cleveland to the second round of the NBA playoffs before being fired.
Alongside Hardaway, the Pistons acquired veterans Malik Beasley (14.7 points) and Tobias Harris (10.3 points). However, Detroit’s main reliance is on young stars Cade Cunningham (27.3 points, 8.0 assists, 5.0 rebounds) and Jaden Ivey (21.7 points, 4.7 assists, 5.0 rebounds), aged 23 and 22, respectively.
Meanwhile, Miami lost their home opener against the Orlando Magic 116-97 but won against Charlotte on Saturday. With power forward Kevin Love out for personal reasons, Miami started Terry Rozier and Tyler Herro at guard, with Jimmy Butler, Nikola Jovic, and Bam Adebayo up front. The bench includes 2023 first-round pick Jaime Jaquez Jr., 3-point shooter Duncan Robinson, and free-agent signee Alec Burks.
At 35, there’s significant pressure on Butler, who managed just three points, four rebounds, and five assists in the loss to Orlando but rebounded with 26 points, eight rebounds, and eight assists against Charlotte. Butler had a team-high 75 touches against the Hornets, showing Miami’s effort to get him more involved.
Adebayo is off to a slow start, averaging 10.5 points, 8.0 rebounds, and 2.0 assists, down from last season’s 19.3 points, 10.4 rebounds, and 3.9 assists. Jovic, who played for Serbia in the 2024 Olympics, is a rising star at 21, averaging 12.5 points, 3.5 assists, and 4.5 rebounds over 27 minutes per game.
