The hosts begin their title hunt. Prediction for the Detroit Pistons–Phoenix Suns game
Detroit Pistons
Phoenix Suns
The Detroit Pistons and Phoenix Suns will meet in the early hours of Tuesday, October 6, as part of the NBA preseason. The game will be played at Little Caesars Arena, with tip-off scheduled for 01:00 Central European Time. I am backing a winner in this matchup.
Head-to-head and statistical facts
- Detroit have suffered three straight defeats.
- Phoenix have lost the opening quarter in eight of their last nine games.
- Detroit have managed just one home win over the Suns in their last nine meetings.
- Phoenix lead 7-3 in the last ten head-to-head meetings.
Detroit Pistons
Detroit enter the preseason with serious ambitions. A year ago, the team enjoyed its best regular season in two decades, winning 60 games and finishing first in the East. The Pistons' run ended in the conference semifinals, in Game 7 of their series against Cleveland. Now the task is considerably tougher: to confirm their status as one of the East's leading contenders and take the next step in the playoffs.
Cade Cunningham remains the team's central figure, with Detroit continuing to build its project around him. At the same time, the club managed to retain another key player, Jalen Duren. The 22-year-old center signed a five-year contract extension after a season in which he made his first All-Star appearance and was named to the All-NBA Third Team.
The roster also underwent significant changes over the summer. Detroit parted ways with Tobias Harris, Caris LeVert and Isaiah Stewart, while adding John Collins, Isaiah Joe and Taurean Prince. Joe's arrival is particularly intriguing: the guard is known for his reliable three-point shooting and should help address one of the team's biggest problems from last season.
Another important development was Ausar Thompson's contract extension. Detroit are therefore keeping the core that is expected to grow together, while also adding more shooting and experience. The game against Phoenix will be the first test of how organically the new pieces fit into an already functioning system.
Phoenix Suns
Phoenix begin the new season in a somewhat different situation. A year ago, the Suns won 45 games, finished seventh in the West and reached the playoffs through the play-in tournament, only to suffer a one-sided first-round defeat to Oklahoma City.
Devin Booker remains at the heart of the project. Last season, Phoenix's leader averaged 26.1 points and six assists per game. Alongside Jalen Green and Dillon Brooks, he is expected to form the foundation of a team that has now added another major offensive weapon. Over the summer, the Suns acquired Miles Bridges, sending Grayson Allen and Royce O'Neale the other way.
Luke Kennard is another addition. His task is fairly obvious: to replace part of the perimeter threat lost with the departures of Allen and O'Neale. At the same time, Phoenix have retained a significant portion of last season's roster.
The main problem has unexpectedly emerged in the paint. Mark Williams will miss a significant part of the start of the season with a shoulder injury, forcing Phoenix to find a new solution at center. Oso Ighodaro and Khaman Maluach are competing for the role, with the latter receiving an additional boost after a strong showing in the Summer League.
What bet should you place?
A slight edge can be given to Detroit in this matchup. The Pistons have retained the core of the team that won 60 games, strengthened their weakness on the perimeter and will be playing at home. Phoenix look no less interesting, but Williams' injury raises serious questions in the frontcourt, while Bridges' new role and the competition at center still need to be tested. We expect a tightly contested game in which Detroit can prevail thanks to greater cohesion and physical strength.
