The Red Wings and Pistons have played roughly a quarter of their respective schedules. The Lions are entering the three-quarter point. The Tigers have been relatively quiet following their first season as a complete rebuilding entity.
None of Detroit’s professional sports teams is considered a legitimate championship contender at this stage.
But given their respective performances during the calendar year 2018, which has the best chance to emerge as a legitimate title winner the soonest?
Here’s a look:
Red Wings - Sounds odd given they missed the playoffs the last two years, and the utterly painful opening of this season, but definitive signs have surfaced the Red Wings are making significant progress. Anthony Mantha (2013), Dylan Larkin (2014), Dennis Cholowski (2016) and Michael Rasmussen (2017) are recent Red Wings’ first-round NHL Draft picks not only contributing currently, but with considerable upside as they develop.
Tyler Bertuzzi and Andreas Athanasiou are also under 25-year-old Red Wings’ draft picks excelling. It’s just a matter of when 2018 first-rounder Filip Zadina, who should become an exceptional goal scorer, arrives in Detroit. He is currently at Grand Rapids with 2016 third-rounder Filip Hronek, who is already an NHL-caliber defenseman.
The Red Wings haven’t remotely begun to solve their future goaltending situation, but they are rapidly accumulating skaters. The big question is whether general manager Ken Holland can make trades to accelerate the development the young nucleus, or continues to be stuck in the quicksand of overvaluing unrestricted free agents. And whether it’s just a matter of time until Steve Yzerman replaces Holland as the Red Wings’ general manager.
The Lions - The good news is that Lions have a veteran, gifted quarterback in his prime signed for the long-term in Matthew Stafford. But it’s also the Lions’ problem given Stafford’s tendency to fold at pressure points (end of 2013, beginning of 2015, this season after Lions won three of four). General manager Bob Quinn’s drafts have been spotty, but there is some potential for the Lions, if the young offensive line progresses and Quinn drafts more effectively for the defensive side. Running back Kerryon Johnson and wide receiver Kenny Golladay have genuine upside offensively, tackle Da’Shawn Hand is stellar defensively. The perception the Lions are “stuck” with Stafford is not as cut and dried as many pundits want you to believe. The Lions could move him, but it would take some creativity, and willing partners, including Stafford. The better option is Stafford not routinely surrendering to adversity like clock work. But after 10 years and three glaring meltdowns, how can this town trust him again?
There is no simple answer for it, but making the right call will determine the fate of Quinn and head coach Matt Patricia. Also, it appears the Lions' NFC North rivals all have a brighter future than the Lions.
The Tigers - General manager Al Avila has a solid blue print. Actually implementing it could be difficult. The Tigers’ farm system is vastly improved, but baseball rebuilds are often time-consuming, painful and even more unpredictable than other sports. The Tigers, especially, have a lot of promising pitchers in their minor league pipeline. But just look at last season when two of the Tigers’ best young pitchers, 2016 American League Rookie of the Year Michael Fulmer at the MLB level, and promising minor league prospect Franklin Perez, suffered through essentially lost seasons because of ailments.
It will be fascinating to observe first overall MLB Draft pick Casey Mize’s development in 2019. It’s a key off season and summer for Avila as he continues to till the soil hoping to find more seed to plant bonafide prospects. What is he going to do about Nick Castellanos and Matthew Boyd? It’s kind of the next step in the development of the future roster, one that might have a chance to win something big.
The Pistons - If you haven’t been paying attention to the Pistons, perhaps you should for the pure enjoyment. Blake Griffin is still an excellent player, and he has played several special games already this season. Andre Drummond is limited, but what he does, Drummond does particularly well. He is getting better.
If Griffin stays healthy, the Pistons will make the playoffs, and maybe even win a first-round series if they get into the fourth- or fifth-seed spot in the Eastern Conference. Of course, that’s the big “if.” Griffin hasn’t played more than 70 games since 2014.
Because they are lacking around the perimeter in a perimeter-oriented era, and are boxed in because of contracts with Griffin and Drummond, the Pistons ultimate ceiling appears limited. While the Pistons have the best chance of making the playoffs this season among Detroit’s sports team, they could be the longest distance from actually winning a championship. As is, they are struck in the NBA’s version of purgatory, the middle, with no clear path to get into either rebuilding or championship circumstances. But this early season has been encouraging from the standpoint that it’s been very entertaining.