The 2025-26 VSiN NBA Betting Guide was released on Tuesday, October 7. The 79-page publication features best bets from our talented VSiN hosts and analysts, betting strategy advice from Jonathan Von Tobel and Kelley Bydlon, and trends/insights from Steve Makinen. The guide also features team-by-team previews for all 30 NBA teams, including one on the Detroit Pistons. Keep reading to see how we think the Pistons will do compared to their regular season win total of 45.5.
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Offense
The Cavaliers needed to move on from J.B. Bickerstaff, but he was exactly what the Pistons needed. Bickerstaff might not have gotten Cleveland over the hump, but that franchise won 22 or fewer games from 2018-19 to 2020-21. Then, in his second full season, he guided the Cavs to 44 wins. In Year 3, they won 51. He proved to be a steady hand, capable of establishing a winning environment. That’s what Detroit had been missing.
Bickerstaff immediately gave a young Pistons roster structure, and some subtle tweaks led to big gains.
One was shot selection. In 2023-24, Detroit took 34.0% of its attempts from mid-range, the third-highest mark in the league, while only 32.7% came from three, the second-lowest rate. Last season, Bickerstaff cut mid-range attempts to 30.7% and raised the team’s three-point rate to 36.1%.
Another was going all-in on Cade Cunningham. The young star’s usage rate climbed from 29.8% to 32.3%, and the offense revolved around him with more purpose. Cunningham responded with a breakout year: 26.1 points, 9.1 rebounds, and 6.1 assists per game, plus All-Star and All-NBA Third Team honors. He solidified himself as a true franchise player.
Everything Detroit runs is built on Cunningham’s creation. He has developed into an efficient three-level scorer who can drop 30 on any night, but his passing is just as dangerous. Having the ball in his hands generally means the Pistons get a good look.
Ausar Thompson and Jalen Duren are the other foundational pieces. Thompson is a freak athlete who terrifies defenses as a cutter and in transition, while also flashing playmaking instincts when collapsing defenses. If he develops a jumper, he’s an All-NBA threat. Duren, still only 21, is a tank inside, finishing plays with power and showing surprising passing touch as a roll man. He and Thompson developed chemistry late last year, constantly creating easy looks for one another.
Now Detroit needs to sort out who complements that core. Tobias Harris remains a steady iso scorer who can bail them out late in the shot clock. Caris LeVert, signed in the offseason, brings veteran shot creation and Michigan ties. Duncan Robinson, another Wolverine alum and career 39.7% three-point shooter, replaces the spacing lost with Tim Hardaway Jr. and Malik Beasley. Isaiah Stewart adds toughness as a backup five with some stretch ability.
The real X-factor is Jaden Ivey. Before a season-ending injury, he averaged 17.6 points per game on career-best efficiency (+0.4 OEPM). He’s a downhill scorer with some shooting touch, but hasn’t yet proved he’s part of the long-term core. If he stays healthy, improves his mid-range game, and runs the offense capably when staggered from Cunningham, Detroit’s ceiling rises considerably.
Ron Holland also has something to prove. The athletic rookie brings energy and effort, but his fit alongside Thompson will hinge on developing a jumper.
Detroit looks like a top-15 offense again. Swapping Dennis Schroder, Hardaway Jr., and Beasley for LeVert and Robinson was solid work by the front office, and the main pieces are all trending upward. If Thompson’s leap comes quickly or Ivey delivers a strong season, a top-10 finish isn’t out of reach.
Defense
The Pistons finished 11th in adjusted defensive rating last season, and this year they have the tools to crack the top-10. Bickerstaff’s defensive pedigree was evident, pulling Detroit out of the bottom five and into respectability. With the roster makeup, there’s more growth to come.
Thompson’s impact on this end can’t be overstated. He’s special defensively, capable of shutting down assignments while also creating chaos off the ball. He already looks like a future Defensive Player of the Year candidate and has raised the team’s overall level.
Detroit also made big strides protecting the rim. Opponents shot just 64.9% at the basket last year, sixth-best in the NBA. One season earlier, that number was 68.0%, fifth-worst in the league.
This is also a group where everyone at least competes. Even players with limited defensive upside took pride in being in the right spots and making the extra effort. Cunningham is a good example — his athletic limitations have kept him from meeting pre-draft defensive expectations, but he was an average defender last season, which was an improvement.
Outlook
The Pistons won 44 games last year, making 46 a realistic goal in 2025-26. This roster has the potential to rank top-10 in both offense and defense, a recipe for consistent regular-season success.
Given their youth and competitive edge, Detroit is built to grind through 82 games. Thompson’s upside is sky-high, Cunningham is already a star, and there are multiple candidates — Ivey, Duren, even Holland — who could push this group higher.
It still feels like the Pistons are a year or two away from true contender status in the East. But with their assets, they could make a swing at the deadline that accelerates the process.
Prediction: Over 45.5 Wins
