Last season, the Detroit Pistons were looking to return to the playoffs for the first time since 2016. Meanwhile, the Golden State Warriors were gearing up for a fifth straight Finals appearance and a third consecutive championship after their high-profile signing of DeMarcus Cousins.
While the Warriors ultimately fell short in their three-peat pursuit after falling to the Toronto Raptors in six games in the NBA Finals, the Pistons did return to the playoffs as the eight seed in the Eastern Conference but were quickly swept by the Milwaukee Bucks.
For the Warriors, untimely injuries to stars Kevin Durant and Klay Thompson meant that five straight Finals appearances would have to count as meeting expectations.