OUTMUSCLE: Detroit Pistons MAUL Hawks – Can Any Eastern Conference Team Hang With Detroit?
Detroit Pistons overpower Atlanta Hawks with their imposing physicality—are they the Eastern Conference’s team to beat? Ku Khahil breaks down the Pistons’ dominant victory, spotlighting Jalen Duren’s interior presence, Isaiah Stewart’s breakout scoring, and Duncan Robinson’s essential role in the starting lineup. With 72 points in the paint and 77 points off the bench, Detroit showcased its elite depth and relentless pace, raising questions about which—if any—Eastern Conference rivals can truly challenge them.
Key analysis covers Jaden Ivey’s confidence-building performance, the evolving chemistry among Pistons’ starters, and the team’s improved ball security and defense. Ku Khahil evaluates contenders such as the New York Knicks, Boston Celtics, and Orlando Magic, while considering the Pistons’ playoff odds and potential vulnerabilities. Can Detroit maintain its grip on the conference, or will a surging opponent rise to the occasion? Don’t miss this deep dive into the Pistons’ path to Eastern dominance.
EVERYDAYER CLUB: lockedonpistons.supercast.com
SUBSTACK: kukhahil.substack.com
Everydayer Club If you never miss an episode, it’s time to make it official. Join the Locked On Everydayer Club and get ad-free audio, access to our members-only Discord, and more — all built for our most loyal fans. Click here to learn more and join your team’s community: https://lockedonpodcasts.com/everydayerclub
Support Us By Supporting Our Sponsors!
Mint MobileTurn your expensive wireless present into a huge wireless savings future by switching to Mint.Shop Mint Unlimited Plans at http://MINTMOBILE.com/LOCKEDONNBA.Disclaimer: Limited time offer. Upfront payment of: $45 for 3-mo., $90 for 6-mo., or $180 for 12-mo. plan required($15/mo. equivalent). Taxes & feesInitial plan term only. Greater Than 35GB may slow when network is busy. Capable device required. Availability, speed, & coverage varies. See mintmobile.com.
QuoMake this the year where no opportunity and no customer slips away.Try Quo for free plus get 20% off your first 6 months when you go to https://www.Quo.com/lockedonnba.Quo — no missed calls, no missed customers.
ZocdocStop putting off your doctor’s appointments and get the care you need.Go to htps://Zocdoc.com/lockedonnba to find and instantly book a top-rated doctortoday.
RobinhoodYou expect more from yourself. Expect more from your money. Get started today at robinhood.com/yourmoney. Your money. Your move.
All investments involve risk, including loss of principal. Options, futures, and crypto trading carry significant risk and may not suit all investors. Securities offered through Robinhood Financial LLC, member SIPC. Futures trading is offered by Robinhood Derivatives, LLC and not SPIC or FDIC protected. Crypto offered through Robinhood Crypto, LLC (NMLS ID 1702840), not FDIC or SIPC protected. Portfolio management offered by Robinhood Strategies, an SEC-registered advisor.
GametimeToday’s episode is brought to you by Gametime. Download the Gametime app, create an account, and use code LOCKEDONNBA for $20 off your first purchase. Terms and conditions apply.
FanDuelToday’s episode is brought to you by FanDuel. The NBA and NFL seasons are here, visit the FanDuel App today and start planning your futures bets now.
FANDUEL DISCLAIMER: 21+ in select states. First online real money wager only. Bonus issued as nonwithdrawable free bets that expires in 14 days. Restrictions apply. See terms at sportsbook.fanduel.com. Gambling Problem? Call 1-800-GAMBLER or visit FanDuel.com/RG (CO, IA, MD, MI, NJ, PA, IL, VA, WV), 1-800-NEXT-STEP or text NEXTSTEP to 53342 (AZ), 1-888-789-7777 or visit ccpg.org/chat (CT), 1-800-9-WITH-IT (IN), 1-800-522-4700 (WY, KS) or visit ksgamblinghelp.com (KS), 1-877-770-STOP (LA), 1-877-8-HOPENY or text HOPENY (467369) (NY), TN REDLINE 1-800-889-9789 (TN)
Follow & Subscribe on all Podcast platforms…
🎧 https://link.chtbl.com/LOPistons?sid=YouTube
Locked On NBA League-Wide: Every Team, Fantasy, Draft, WNBA & More
🎧 https://linktr.ee/LockedOnNBA
#DetroitPistons #Pistons #NBA
25 Comments
We gotta get our revenge on Boston for them dubbing us.. stay focus boys.
We have to beat Cleveland a few times this year. And beat Boston and New York.
Think we might getting a bit too far ahead of ourselves talking about who do we need to be worried about. I wouldn’t be super confident playing Cleveland or Miami in a first round matchup.
This team(and OKC) are perfect examples of what hitting on draft picks can do. Albeit the pistons had to get the right coach but still. Look at Brooklyn. They still haven't recovered from that kg, pp trade
OKC barley Best is last year
Cade needs a 6' 6* Klay Thompson sharp shooter. knock on yo yo Duncan is his defense, expending too much energy on offense. Heat new style is least energy on offense
Duncan is not better then Beasley last year… Thats crazy. Beasley hit 300 3s for us. He broke games… Also, Ivey needs to start. Hes better then Robinson and we need to see him as a starter with Cade to assess him before his contract extension.
If Sasser can shoot 3 along with ivey and Dankins …ouch no need for trade
My family thinks I’m nuts but I fear the Celtics little bit in the east. They’re playing great basketball and they’ll have Tatum back in the playoffs. There’s a lot to love about the Pistons BUT we’re (Pistons) going to be playing the “thank u sir may I have another” game for 2-3 years until the Thunder fizzle out. Nobody’s beating that team in the Regular Season,postseason or any other season
Ku, Duncan has been a great addition to our team, but at the end of the day when we are talking playoff basketball you need players that can create there own shots and Ivey dose that better then Duncan., play your best players remember.
Ignoring the fact that the Magic beat the Pistons without Banchero and Moe Wagner… The east is between the Knicks and Magic
The rest for the Pistons did wonders for that team, just as I figured after playing nine games , in fourteen days…. They will continue to play between nine eleven players pretty much for the rest of the season with maybe a reduction during the playoffs. My three teams that will play the Pistons the toughest are the Knicks, Orlando and Cleveland….. They haven't beaten Cleveland (1-9) in the last ten games…..so they're number one right now, IMO
BEST THUMBNAIL PHOTO YOUVE TAKEN OF YOURSELF KU😭😭
Duncan can not just go get you a bucket ivey can he sucks on defense some nights and is inconsistent he has slumps and was almost out the league
1st Listen. Yeah Ku, it's clear this team is foreal. Cade is on another level and the crew is following his lead. This is Detroit Basketball and it feel good to be back on top. Word up!!! Stay up Ku. ✌🏾
Only 5.5 games out of the play in with 57 games to go and they've had a super easy schedule so far
Great, dominant performance versus the Hawks, but all 3 times we have played them they have been without Young and Porzingas
Hawks didn't have Trae and Porz…that really changes the whole complexion of the HAWKS. Plus ..get ready for a HUGE HAWKS trade to beef up their interior!
Cavs and Knicks are still going to be the ones to worry about…plus the Hawks after they rock the NBA world before the trade deadline! They have the assets!
Best full game performance of the year. If they can build off of these types of wins and continue to improve, their trade deadline will be super uneventful. It still feels like this team can go up another level which should scare the rest of the East.
The coaching staff did an excellent job refocusing our guys during the break. Good on them for not letting up on fundamentals and working on communication.
One trend to watch as the season unfolds: They are actively trying to get Ausar more involved in the offense early in the game as well as the start of the second half. He also shoots better from the line when he has fresh legs under him. Ausar’s aggressiveness on offense leads to open looks for Duncan, Duran and Cade.
stay humble Ku, getting fat on cupcakes the Knicks are 2.5 games back and Still no second scorer
Need to be worried about Cleveland until they beat them
Just wait until they get that cohesion and JI with basketball legs under him the deeper their roster the more powerful the team this is what a team looks like solid the entire roster. This is great.
If healthy I still feel we need to worry about all the East teams 2-10.
A fully healthy Ivey will return to the starting lineup or will be traded for a secondary scorer who can create on the ball. Cade being the only option in the starting lineup who can create his own shot will be a problem against these top teams in the NBA. We saw it in the playoffs last year when he was just being blitzed by the Knicks all series.