Following a 41-41 season and first-round playoff exit, the Pistons again are projected to be in the bottom half of the playoff teams — if they even make the playoffs at all. Some predictions have them getting fewer than 40 wins, which could put them on the borderline.
In the offseason, they didn’t add a big name to the starting lineup that could shake up the status quo. But a few of their new reserves could exceed expectations and propel the Pistons to a few more wins, which could mean the difference between missing the playoffs, the eighth seed or something higher.