Five takeaways from the Pistons' 2024-25 NBA schedule release

The Detroit Pistons released their schedule for the 2024-25 season on Thursday afternoon. They will begin their 84th season as a franchise on Oct. 23 against the Indiana Pacers at Little Caesars Arena.

Under new coach JB Bickerstaff, the Pistons will look to take a step forward amid their grueling rebuild and emerge from basketball purgatory. Last season, Detroit had its worst campaign in franchise history, finishing with a 14-68 record.

In addition to signing Bickerstaff, the Pistons revamped their roster with the additions of veterans Tobias Harris, Tim Hardaway Jr. and Malik Beasley. During the draft, they landed Ignite G League prospect Ron Holland II with the fifth overall pick.

Below are five takeaways from the release of the Pistons’ 2024-25 regular-season schedule:

▶ A brutal starto

The Pistons will have to measure themselves against the league’s elite immediately. The season begins with the Pistons’ opening game against the Pacers on October 23.

Seven of the Pistons’ first eight games will be against opponents who qualified for the playoffs last season, with matchups against the Cleveland Cavaliers (Oct. 25), Boston Celtics (Oct. 26), Miami Heat (Oct. 28), Philadelphia 76ers (Oct. 30) and New York Knicks (Nov. 1).

The Pistons will get a brief break on Nov. 3 with a road game against the Brooklyn Nets before hosting the Los Angeles Lakers in Detroit on Nov. 4.

▶ Back on track?

While the Pistons will have a brutal start to the season, they will have a chance to find their groove in mid-December. After their home game against the Lakers, seven of Detroit’s next nine games will be against teams that missed the playoffs last season.

One day after the election, the Pistons will travel to face the Charlotte Hornets on Nov. 6 before a quick two-game homestand against the Atlanta Hawks (Nov. 8) and Houston Rockets (Nov. 10).

Following back-to-back games against the Heat and Bucks on Nov. 12 and 13, the Pistons will have a chance to put together a strong run, starting against the Toronto Raptors (Nov. 15), Washington Wizards (Nov. 17), Chicago Bulls (Nov. 18) and Hornets (Nov. 21). If the Pistons stay above .500 over the four-game stretch, Detroit could establish momentum that could set a positive tone for the remainder of the 2024-25 season.

▶ Sleepless nights Due to consecutive games

For the second straight year, the Pistons will be near the top of the league when it comes to consecutive games played. They will play 15 games without a break during the season, starting with the Cavaliers on the road (Oct. 25) and the Celtics (Oct. 26) at home.

Last season, the Pistons went 5-10 with no days off. An improvement in their back-to-back performances would provide a significant clue to their growth under Bickerstaff. One of Detroit’s toughest back-to-back games will be against the Pacers (Nov. 29) and 76ers (Nov. 30).

▶ Back on the road

The Pistons will have several games that will force them to undertake a four-game road trip. However, their longest road trip of the season could also help the team remain relevant midseason.

On Jan. 20, in the midst of a Martin Luther King Day showdown at the Toyota Center, the Pistons will take on the Rockets. The interconference game will be the first of a five-game season-long road trip that also includes games against the Atlanta Hawks (Jan. 22), Orlando Magic (Jan. 24), Cavaliers (Jan. 27) and Pacers (Jan. 29). A 3-2 record during this stretch seems possible.

▶ Marquee games and expected returns

Detroit will have one game televised on ESPN, on February 7 at home against the 76ers. However, several important games will highlight the Pistons’ season.

Fans will get a chance to see the trio that helped the U.S. men’s basketball team win its fifth consecutive gold medal during the 2024 Paris Olympics. The Pistons will host LeBron James and the Lakers in Detroit for their lone appearance on Nov. 4, Stephen Curry and the Golden State Warriors on Jan. 9 and Kevin Durant and the Phoenix Suns on Jan. 18.

With a new coach and several veteran players, the Pistons’ summer makeover will bring several emotional returns. Tobias Harris will be on the front line on Oct. 30 against the 76ers at the Wells Fargo Center. Harris played six seasons with the 76ers, averaging 17.6 points and 6.6 rebounds in 378 games.

Bickerstaff’s return to Cleveland on Oct. 25 will fuel another long-awaited reunion. Last season, Bickerstaff led the Cavaliers, who won 48 regular-season games, to their first postseason victory in the post-LeBron-James era. Despite the success, the Cavaliers fired Bickerstaff after five seasons. With 170 wins, Bickerstaff posted the fifth-most victories in franchise history.

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