Is The Pistons’ Preseason Success A Sign Of What’s To Come?

The Detroit Pistons 2024-25 preseason is officially over! With their home opener against the Indiana Pacers on October 23, the Pistons closed out the exhibition slate with a 108-92 win over the Cleveland Cavaliers, finishing 3-2.

The starters played just under eight minutes before turning things over to the bench, a typical preseason strategy.

Simone Fontecchio led the way with 18 points, followed by Daniss Jenkins with 13.

Ron Holland continued his stellar preseason, adding eight points and six rebounds, while Paul Reed chipped in with six points and nine boards.

After surrendering 61 points in the first half, the Pistons tightened their defense, holding Cleveland to just 31 points after halftime.

Even with Cavaliers head coach Kenny Atkinson giving his starters extended minutes, the Pistons bench outperformed Cleveland down the stretch.

Jarrett Allen led the Cavs with 19 points, followed by Donovan Mitchell with 13 and Evan Mobley with 10.

Now that the preseason is behind them, the focus shifts to the regular season.

Which players stood out the most? Who fell short of expectations, and what are the biggest takeaways? Lets dive in.

Is The Pistons Preseason Success A Sign Of Whats To Come? Surprising Takeaways from the Pistons Preseason The star of the Pistons preseason is Jaden Ivey and its not even close.

Coming into the season, the fifth overall pick in the 2022 NBA Draft faced questions about whether he could put it all together.

There was also speculation about whether the front office might explore a trade to gauge his market value.

Last season, Monty Williams limited Iveys development by prioritizing Killian Hayes in the starting lineup, shaking the young guards confidence.

This year, new head coach J.B.

Bickerstaff gave Ivey a boost early, and it showed on the court.

Ivey tied for the team lead in scoring with 15.0 points per game.

He was incredibly efficient, shooting 61% from the field, 52% from beyond the arc, and 85% from the free-throw line.

He also showcased his playmaking abilities, averaging 2.8 assists per game, which tied for third on the team.

For Pistons fans, this is exactly the version of Ivey theyve been waiting to see.

If this preseason is any indication, Ivey looks ready to prove he belongs at the heart of Detroits plans.

With the stakes high, this season could be a defining one for his career in Detroit.

Final Takeaways of the Pistons Preseason Brought in to solidify the Pistons perimeter shooting, Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr.

have fallen short of expectations.

Beasley, coming off a solid season with the Milwaukee Buckswhere he ranked among the top 25 three-point shootersseemed like a reliable addition to bolster the offense.

However, Beasley struggled to find his rhythm during the preseason.

He averaged just 6.8 points in 19.7 minutes per game, shooting 35% from the field and 32% from deep.

While some may shrug off these struggles, Beasleys performance is concerning.

With Ivey and Holland performing well, Beasleys inconsistency could affect his role moving forward.

Tim Hardaway Jr.

Tim Hardaway Jr.

also struggled to make an impact.

Acquired in the Quentin Grimes trade this summer, his fit with the Pistons raised questions from the start.

Although Hardaway was Dallas third-leading scorer last season, he lost playoff minutes to Jaden Hardy .

Hardaways preseason was rough, to say the least.

Over five games, he shot just 17% from the field and 11% from three-point range.

With Holland emerging as a dependable perimeter defender, Hardaway may find it difficult to earn meaningful minutes .

While theres always a chance things turn around, these early struggles are disappointing for fans hoping to see the former Michigan Wolverine shine in Detroit.

Final Impressions Watching the Pistons this preseason has been a joy compared to last years struggles.

Bickerstaff has brought an old-school mentality to the teamsomething theyve lacked over the past five seasons.

While the three-point shooting remains underwhelming, as highlighted by the struggles of Beasley and Hardaway, there are plenty of encouraging signs.

Last season was marked by an NBA-record 28-game losing streak and a franchise-worst 68 losses.

The team felt lost, both on and off the court.

But this year could mark the start of a new conversation.

The Pistons are no longer just a punchlinetheyre a team ready to demand respect.

Its still early, and the road wont be easy, but the foundation is in place.

This season, the Pistons are poised to change the narrativeand it might just be time to put some respect on their name.

The Last Word The Pistons preseason showcased both promise and areas for improvement.

With standout performances from Jaden Ivey and the emergence of young talent like Ron Holland, theres reason for optimism.

However, struggles from key veterans like Malik Beasley and Tim Hardaway Jr.

highlight the work still needed.

As the season approaches, its clear this team is ready to move past last years disappointments.

The foundation is setnow its time for the Pistons to prove they belong.

This article first appeared on Last Word On Sports and was syndicated with permission..

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