Pistons being this good this season is the biggest shock of them all. There are few teams that got better over a season, like Rockets who finished 11th last season on the west, now being second place, Memphis certainly improved a ton compared to last season as well. However, none of them had a huge change like Pistons.
Because, Pistons literally broke the losing streak or something last season if I remember correctly, we have literally seen them be a mockery and they ended up being 50%+ this season so far, that is not something I expected to see. I assumed they would be a little bit better, like get maybe five or ten more wins this season, but going from 14 wins to now having 21 wins at half of the season is a huge success.
I guess having a new coach is a new beginning for the whole team that's why we are seeing them playing better right now compared to last season where like you said, became a mockery where even Pistons fans are saying that the team needs to be sold.
They've got better players right now as well. Not that good, but players like Beasley, Hardaway Jr., Harris, and having a new head coach made them good. Of course, Cunningham is a given and will probably be an all-star this season, but overall, they're playing better right now. I guess let's not talk about playoffs for them because I don't see them competing against the top teams TBH, and they might end up getting swept. What I will just say is that they're on the right track. Develop, and maybe get a 2nd superstar, and they might compete.