The Smoking Cuban
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Dallas Mavericks: Four Lottery Teams with a Chance at 2019 Playoffs

By Kohl Rast

DETROIT, MI - MARCH 26: Blake Griffin #23 of the Detroit Pistons grabs the rebound against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 26, 2018 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - MARCH 26: Blake Griffin #23 of the Detroit Pistons grabs the rebound against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 26, 2018 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) /
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DETROIT, MI – MARCH 26: Blake Griffin #23 of the Detroit Pistons dunks the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 26, 2018 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – MARCH 26: Blake Griffin #23 of the Detroit Pistons dunks the ball against the Los Angeles Lakers on March 26, 2018 at Little Caesars Arena in Detroit, Michigan. NOTE TO USER: User expressly acknowledges and agrees that, by downloading and/or using this photograph, user is consenting to the terms and conditions of the Getty Images License Agreement. Mandatory Copyright Notice: Copyright 2018 NBAE (Photo by Chris Schwegler/NBAE via Getty Images) /

Detroit Pistons

The Pistons made a big trade last year, sending Tobias Harris to the Los Angeles Clippers in exchange for one of the best power forwards in the game, Blake Griffin. This move in itself will make Detroit a threat for the playoffs because of his excellent play and the weakness of the Eastern Conference.

Add in the fact that rookie guard, Luke Kennard showed flashes of brilliance last season and you have a Pistons team with some definite talent. The established star on the team in Griffin, paired with the best rebounder in the NBA from Andre Drummond makes for a formidable front court. If Stanley Johnson could make a leap in his game, Reggie Jackson stays healthy, and the Pistons land a promising wing in the draft, you have a definite playoff contender.

The Pistons need to work out some chemistry issues from last season. Blake Griffin did not look happy out on the court on a regular basis. That can be one of the struggles of being traded mid-season, but if Griffin can play like he always does, it shouldn’t slow anything down too bad.

The biggest thing that will hurt Detroit if not corrected is the bench. Players like Ish Smith, Henry Ellenson, and Anthony Tolliver aren’t bad bench players, but the second unit needs more consistency and these guys just don’t offer that. You can get away with it from an all-star starting lineup, but the Pistons don’t have that so the bench needs some fixing.

Even still, I believe that this team is capable of a playoff run.

Next: Los Angeles Lakers

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