My allegiances when it comes to sports aren’t exactly normal.
How does someone born and raised in Michigan begin to support the Pittsburgh Steelers, the Pittsburgh Penguins and the Chicago Cubs? I promise that it actually makes sense with proper context, but that’s not my point here. None of my main teams hail from the great state of Michigan.
Now, this doesn’t mean I don’t like the Detroit Lions, Tigers or Red Wings. All the teams have been fun to watch as of late. I’d argue that they all have outperformed my favorite teams mentioned above in the past year or two. It’s just who I got attached to when I got into sports. I’ve got nothing against Detroit.
Notice how I haven’t mentioned any NBA teams. It’s because it’s the exception. I love the Detroit Pistons. They’re the only team I find myself sitting down and watching consistently. However, compared to the other Detroit franchises, they’re a bit behind.
The Lions recently had back-to-back years of playoff berths and a franchise-best regular season record. The Tigers defied all odds last season, made the playoffs and made the ALDS. The Red Wings had a hard push to the playoffs and came up short last year, but a New Year revitalization under new head coach Todd McLellan has them 15-5-1 since his hiring this past December.
The Pistons, though? A tad different. The 2023-24 season for the team was grueling, to say the least. A 28-game losing streak, tied for the longest NBA losing streak, pushed the Pistons to a league-worst 14-68 record. On top of this, the Pistons’ draft lottery luck dried up, as they received the worst pick they could’ve received, fifth overall, despite having some of the best odds for the first overall.
It was brutal. I was at the team’s 25th consecutive loss in December of 2023. Chants of “sell the team” broke out. There was only anger within the long string of defeats.
This team is by no means perfect. They’re barely treading a .500 record. But the momentum is there. They’re fun, and as long as they’re not on another 28-game losing streak, you can’t take this from me.
A massive reformation in the offseason now has this team in a much better place. The Pistons’ 2023-24 win total has almost doubled in the 2024-25 season, and we’re just past the season’s halfway point.
I’ve never been a big basketball fan. It’s one of the sports I’ve never been able to fully grasp. I couldn’t give you more than surface-level information on the sport, but perhaps that’s enough.
My other teams’ underperforming and mediocrity have killed my enjoyment of sports here and there. This year’s Pistons are a refreshing dose of fun for me. There’s no expectation for a championship or some magical run. In the best way possible, the bar has been set low.
The Lions have been in the Super Bowl conversation for the better of two years. The Tigers now have playoff expectations heading into this year, as do the Red Wings in their current state.
The Pistons’ situation is something that needs to be enjoyed. They’re in a perfect window of no expectations. What happens at the end of this season sets the expectations for next year. This team is floating in a free state of excitement.
If you told me I’d be hollering in my living room after a deep three-point shot from Malik Beasley after last season, I would have given you the most deprecated answer imaginable.
But now, we’re here. I’ve got a new love for basketball that I don’t think I’ve ever had. My Pistons are buzzing. They’re exciting. That’s more than I can say about my teams not from our state.