Cavs: Do they have a better starting lineup than the Pistons?

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Jarrett Allen, Cleveland Cavaliers. Photo by Jacob Kupferman/Getty Images /

Better starting lineup: Cavs or Pistons? – Final Verdict

The star power of the Detroit Pistons’ starting lineup is convincing. Cade Cunningham looks like a player ready-made for the modern NBA, while Jerami Grant was in All-Star consideration early in the year last season. There are reasons to be optimistic about many Cleveland players, but Collin Sexton is not there yet and Evan Mobley is considerably more raw than Cunningham.

Cleveland tips the scale back in their direction with increased experience across the board. The Pistons have 670 minutes between their two ball-handlers; their primary rim protector has 1,455. Cleveland on the other hand has 10,477 between Sexton and Darius Garland. Jarrett Allen has been protecting the paint for 7,253 minutes of his own.

Both teams are very young, and that bodes well for their future. Grant is by far the oldest at 27 years old, and every other player is 23 or younger. These are all one-and-done talents that are quickly adapting to the NBA game. Multiple players from both starting lineups will factor into the league for years to come.

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If Cunningham explodes into the league as an All-Star level player in year one, absolutely a possibility for a player of his talent, then Detroit is in a better position here. Otherwise, Cleveland’s experience wins out, especially since they have a theory of offense and of defense more than Detroit. It’s surprisingly close, however, proving the point that there two teams are close together in building for the future.

Verdict: Cleveland