Detroit Pistons forward Duncan Robinson (55) celebrates with Pistons guard Ausar Thompson (9) and Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) after making a go-ahead three point field goal against the Washington Wizards during the second overtime at Ca… | Source: Lastwordonsports.com – Daniel Benjamin, EditorOne of the biggest problems the Detroit Pistons had in 2025-2026 was their bench depth, something they addressed over the offseason. You can see how much the team has changed and grown, particularly in three-point shooting, defensive tenacity, and their big-man rotation. Seeing these changes come to fruition so early in the season is definitely an encouraging sign for the playoffs, particularly once Jalen Duren is back on the court with the rest of the team.Given that the Pistons finished first in the Eastern Conference last season, it would be easy to assume this team was in a great position heading into 2026-2027. And in many ways they were. Core players like Cade Cunningham, Ausar Thompson, Duncan Robinson, Daniss Jenkins, and Ron Holland remain in place. After a rather tumultuous and lengthy offseason negotiation, so does Duren.There was a fly in the ointment, as the kids say. Everything that worked in the regular season completely fell apart in the 2026 playoffs. You can chalk it up to youth and inexperience, or the bright lights of the postseason blinding this growing Pistons team. Frankly, it’s all accurate.A little seasoning will go a long way for this squad. What it really comes down to is that Detroit needed more depth beyond their starting five and a couple of core bench players.The Pistons’ 2025-2026 roster lacked perimeter shooting, which caused serious issues with floor spacing and congestion in the paint. Duren was, and is, the second-best player on the team after Cunningham. Both of them struggled to find room to maneuver at times. All the core players felt the strain of not having a deeper bench to work with, which definitely caught up with them in the postseason.Offseason Additions are Already Having an ImpactDetroit Pistons guard Cade Cunningham (2) dribbles the ball as Washington Wizards guard Trae Young (3) and Wizards guard Bilal Coulibaly (0) defend during the second overtime at Capital One Arena. Photo Credit: Geoff Burke, Imagn Images via Reuters ConnectA major offseason focus for the front office was finding support for Cunningham. While the Pistons didn’t get the secondary playmaker they were looking for, they did manage to add more perimeter shooters. In addition to Robinson and Kevin Huerter, the Pistons added Isaiah Joe, Taurean Prince, and Gary Harris. Some have found their groove quicker than others, but there’s a lot of basketball left to play.Detroit found similar support for Duren, which has been key during his absence due to injury. Paul Reed has stepped up in a big way while new addition John Collins has found his rhythm impressively fast. It will be interesting to see how the Pistons utilize their three c
