Pistons open season with eyes on playoffs

Catch up quick: The Pistons are coming off their first winning season since 2015-16.

• Second-year coach J.B. Bickerstaff led Detroit to a 44-38 record and a first-round playoff series loss to the New York Knicks.
• Detroit brought in perimeter players Duncan Robinson and Caris LeVert in the offseason to replace sharpshooter Malik Beasley and veteran Dennis Schröder.

🔑 This season's keys:

⛑️ Jaden Ivey's health: Anticipation was high for the fourth-year guard's return after a broken left leg last year.

• But Ivey is out for about a month to recover from arthroscopic surgery on his right knee.

🤙 Long-range shooting: Robinson, a former U of M standout, will be counted on to help replace Beasley, whose offseason contract negotiations with Detroit were shelved in light of a federal gambling probe.

🤩 Superstar Cade: Detroit's success will hinge on Cunningham.

• He validated his franchise-player status in the playoffs and is poised for an MVP-caliber season.

The bottom line: Detroit has a chance to be a top-five team in the weakened Eastern Conference.