Fansided

5 reasons Detroit Pistons can win NBA Finals

By John Buhler

Apr 6, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Detroit Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy yells to a player during the second half of a basketball game against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center. The Pistons won 108-104. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports
Apr 6, 2016; Orlando, FL, USA; Detroit Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy yells to a player during the second half of a basketball game against the Orlando Magic at Amway Center. The Pistons won 108-104. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /
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Mar 25, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) before the game against the Charlotte Hornets at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pistons win 112-105. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 25, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons center Andre Drummond (0) before the game against the Charlotte Hornets at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pistons win 112-105. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /

4. The NBA Playoffs drought is over!

The Pistons ended the longest active playoff drought in the Eastern Conference by clinching either a spot in the 2016 Eastern Conference Playoffs. While in the West the Sacramento Kings and the Minnesota Timberwolves’ playoff droughts continue into their second decades, it has been a long eight years since Detroit has seen any playoff basketball.

With the Pistons’ best season in nearly a decade, they won’t feel any pressure in the first round, as many would expect the Cavaliers or Raptors to either sweep them or put Detroit away in five games. For Detroit, playoff experience is of utmost importance. Everything else is icing on the cake.

What this inevitably means is that Detroit will probably play a looser brand of basketball in the first round than either Cleveland or Toronto. Though advancement to the Eastern Semis, Finals, or NBA Finals for the 2015-16 Pistons is a tad farfetched at this juncture, playing loose with a team that has nothing to lose are two key parts to pulling off shocking postseason upsets.

Outside of maybe the Charlotte Hornets, just about every team in the East feels some pressure to advance in the playoffs. Indiana, the Miami Heat and the Boston Celtics will all think they should make it to the second round.

The Atlanta Hawks would love to get to back-to-back Eastern Conference Finals. Cleveland is championship or bust in 2016. Toronto HAS to advance to the Eastern Semifinals or the team will be blown up.

The playoffs are upon Detroit basketball and outside of the Utah Jazz in the West, nobody will benefit more from postseason experience than the Pistons this spring. This is a no-pressure situation that the Pistons find themselves in.

Next: 3. Andre Drummond

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