Central Division
Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons have handled the Phoenix Suns pretty handily over the past few seasons, with last season being no exception.
Can the Suns’ addition of Ricky Rubio counter the Pistons’ addition of Derrick Rose?
Will Blake Griffin be healthy for both games against Phoenix?
Is Deandre Ayton finally going to be able to score on Andre Drummond?
These are the questions that will each need to be answered if the Suns are going to be able to steal at least one game against their Eastern Conference counterpart – a team who finished 41-41 last year and slipped into the 8th seed in the playoffs, exactly where Phoenix would love to be this coming year.
In order for the Suns to do so, though, they will need to take at least one game from the Pistons, however, while the playoffs could still be in their future, I do not predict that they will get that elusive win.
Unfortunately the Pistons are likely going to sweep the Suns for the third straight season, and while I would not be shocked if Phoenix did take one game (probably at home), Detroit’s style of play has stifled the Suns so much recently (regardless of the roster) that I do not expect them to be able to break out of it.