Detroit’s Not Sneaking Up on Anyone Anymore

Four years ago, the Pistons hit the All-Star break with the worst record in franchise history. Two years ago, somehow, it was worse. Fast forward to today, and Detroit walks out of the break at 40–13, holding the best record in the NBA.

Not second. Not “nice story.” First.

Oklahoma City is right there at 42–14, but the Thunder were expected to be here. Detroit wasn’t supposed to jump up this quickly.

And now the standings and the sportsbooks have both adjusted.

From Rebuild to Real Contender

The rise hasn’t been fluky. Detroit has been consistent, not streaky. They’re 11–2 following a loss. They have not dropped more than two games in a row all season. They also don’t get embarrassed, just three double-digit losses through 53 games.

Against quality competition? The Pistons are 17–6 versus teams that were .500 or better at tipoff.

Cade Cunningham looks fully comfortable running a contender. Jalen Duren has become a reliable interior presence on both ends. The rest of the roster defends, shares the ball, and rarely wastes possessions. It’s disciplined basketball, and that usually holds up in April and May.

The Pistons have been steady. That consistency is what’s pushed them ahead of teams with bigger preseason expectations.

The Betting Market Has Caught Up

The NBA Finals futures board still has Oklahoma City as the favorite. The Thunder sit at +130 at several sportsbooks, holding firm as the clear favorite. Denver follows at +450, and both teams have actually shortened from their preseason prices.

Denver, in particular, has been popular with bettors all year. The Nuggets carry a significant share of handle at multiple books, and sportsbooks admit they’ve been managing liability because of it. But as the odds shortened, the risk eased.

Cleveland has been one of the bigger movers. After drifting as long as 30-1 during a shaky start, the Cavaliers shot back into the mix following the James Harden trade. They now sit around 12-1 and are drawing heavy betting interest to win the East.

And then there’s Detroit.

The Pistons are currently listed around 15-1 to win the title and have quietly become one of the most bet teams in the Eastern Conference market. At several books, Detroit ranks near the top in ticket count for the East and has drawn meaningful money to win it all since February began.

That’s not casual interest. Bettors are noticing something real.

Oddsmakers still show respect to the Knicks and Celtics because big-market teams naturally draw action. But Detroit’s presence near the top of the board isn’t just about hype anymore; it’s about results.

The Real Test Starts Now

Regular-season dominance doesn’t guarantee playoff success. The Thunder, Nuggets, and Celtics have been through deep postseason runs. Detroit hasn’t won a playoff series since 2008.

That matters, but history also shows that teams sitting among the league’s top five at the All-Star break tend to be around in June. Detroit’s game fits that scenario: strong record, bounces back after losses, competitiveness against contenders.

The final two months will determine whether the Pistons are simply having a great year or if this is real.

What’s clear is the league has noticed, and so has the betting market.