Since Jan. 3, the Cleveland Cavaliers are tied for the best record in the NBA and have the league’s best net rating. In that span, they are the only franchise other than the Boston Celtics to hold a top-5 rating in both offense and defense. They are, as the kids like to say but probably don’t actually say anymore, a problem.
In other words, the Detroit Pistons, a team that has been more competitive since jettisoning most of the dead weight on its roster, is going to have its hands full as it looks to win its second consecutive game.