Pistons break the deadlock: From 14 wins to 44 wins, the first team in NBA history "tripled"

On May 9, Detroit Pistons President Trayan Landon used "epic" to describe the team's performance in the 2023-24 season in an interview: "We not only ended the 17-year 'first round sweep curse' of the playoffs, but also became the first team in NBA history to have a record of 44 wins and 38 losses (14 wins → 44 wins). This is not a miracle, but a strategic victory."

Regular season:

leap: 44 wins and 38 losses (6th in the Eastern Conference), a 3-fold increase from 14 wins last season, setting a record of the fastest "triple-speed" record increase in NBA history;

Offensive and defensive balance: 6th in the league in scoring per game, ranking 12th in defensive efficiency, achieving offensive and defensive balance for the first time.

Playoffs:

Breaking the Curse: Ending the "first round sweep curse" since 2008, and achieving the first victory in the past 17 years in team history (G3 and G5 narrowly defeated the Knicks in two games);

Young players exploded: rookie Cunningham averaged 22.3 points per game, and Durham contributed 17.5 points + 8.2 rebounds, becoming a key factor in the game.

Historical uniqueness:

44 wins = 14 wins × 3.14, the NBA officially certified "the first team in history to achieve a triple-speed jump";

Comparative reference: The Warriors' "Four-Crown Dynasty" went from 23 wins in 2011 to 67 wins in 2015 (2.9 times), but it took 4 years, and the Pistons only took 1 year.

Strategic disassembly:

Draft accuracy:

2022 No. 1 pick Cad Cunningham (averages 20.1 points + 6.1 assists);

2023 No. 2 Jaylen Durham (averages 17.5 points + 8.2 rebounds);

Tanhua Hunter (averages 1.8 blocks per game).

Trading wisdom:

Send away the high-paid veteran Boyan and exchange it for the instant center (such as Iliasova introduced in 2023); after the salary space is released, sign experienced role players (such as Reggie Jackson) with basic salary.

Tactical innovation:

Landon personally designed the "multi-joint defense + fast attack" system, and the Pistons ranked third in the league in fast attack score per game;

requires each player to have the ability to protect the frame + three-pointers, and the defensive efficiency has increased by 12% year-on-year.

The rise of the Detroit Pistons is the ultimate case of the NBA's "trough-leap" model:

Short-term outbreak: A three-fold jump in 1 year, breaking the industry consensus that "reconstruction takes 5 years";

Long-term value: The dual core of Cunningham + Durham has taken shape, with a total salary of only 120 million in the next three years, and the cost-effectiveness is far beyond the league average.

As Langdon said: "The true revival begins with a clear planning for the future." The Pistons' script is rewriting the NBA's reconstruction rules - speed, accuracy and execution, which are the key to breaking the deadlock.