Reports: Pistons fans being set up for wild overreaction

Watching the Detroit Pistons play their first game against the Indiana Pacers gave me an unsettling sense of déjà vu from last season.

In their opener against Miami last year, the Pistons were quick and dynamic, and for a brief moment, the fans felt optimistic. We finally had hope! But they ended up losing and went on to have a historically terrible season.

This year’s first game felt similar; the Pistons showed promise at times against the Pacers, with Cade Cunningham shining in the 3rd quarter and everyone feeling upbeat. We finally have hope! But, of course, they lost the game again…

How the season will ultimately unfold remains uncertain, but the fanbase is unlikely to settle for merely being “competitive” losers for long.

We can only hope the Pistons achieve more than just moral victories this year. However, looking at the schedule, it seems fans are in for an emotional rollercoaster.

An overreaction from Pistons fans is inevitable. As Homer #1, I’ve predicted the Pistons will win over 30 games this season, a statement I stand by with some anxiety, especially considering the challenging upcoming schedule.

Detroit faces a back-to-back tonight and tomorrow against the Cavaliers away and then the Celtics at home.

After a day off, they will take on Miami on the road, followed by a game in Philly, and wrap up this tough stretch with a home game against the Knicks.

While no game in October is truly a “must-win,” the match against the Pacers was close, as it could have kept the Pistons from starting the season 0-6, which is a real possibility.

Even if the Pistons are competitive, an 0-6 start will trigger a strong reaction from the fanbase, and it’s hard to blame us given the trauma from last year’s 28-game losing streak.

There’s a chance the Pistons could snag a win or two, which would lead to the opposite overreaction, suggesting they can compete with the best in the Eastern Conference and maybe even make the play-in tournament!

Both reactions would be premature. The Pistons are likely to lose most, if not all, of these games; that doesn’t mean their season is over, nor does winning a few guarantee a playoff spot.

Regardless, we’re heading into this scenario, and let’s hope we emerge from this stretch feeling overwhelmingly optimistic as fans, rather than with the sinking feeling that we’re facing the same situation again.