After getting off to a franchise-best 27-5 start, it was only a matter of time before people started comparing the Pistons to the Chicago Bulls team that won 72 games. Is it feasible for a team without immediate Hall of Famers to win 70 games? The naive among us might answer yes. But the calm and collected will take a deep breath and say no.

Any long-time NBA fan should be able to rattle off a plethora of teams that got off to great starts like this, but didn’t win much over 60. In fact, there are 10 teams in this millennium alone that got off to similar starts that didn’t reach 70. Even more unsettling was that these teams came in back-to-back years, so you’d think talk of “going for 70” would have become a cliché by now.

05-06 Detroit Pistons: 27-5

04-05 Phoenix Suns: 31-4

03-04 Indiana Pacers: 15-3

03-04 LA Lakers: 18-3

02-03 Dallas Mavericks: 22-3

01-02 LA Lakers: 26-6

01-02 New Jersey Nets: 26-9

00-01 Philadelphia 76ers: 10-0

99-00 LA Lakers: 31-5

99-00 Portland Blazers: 10-1

Being a group with great teamwork is impressive considering that every previous team had the person Detroit doesn’t have. However, it makes the Pistons even more vulnerable to a long-term losing streak. The Suns started 31-4 last year and received similar praise. But Steve Nash was injured and Phoenix lost 6 straight, decimating their hopes of 70 wins.

All it takes is one injury to Detroit’s five starters and they’re done. This team isn’t deep at all, and replacing Arroyo with Billups or Evans with Prince isn’t equal compensation. It’s no coincidence that Detroit is injury-free right now. The Pistons went 5-11 last year when one of the five was out, so they should fear a loss when Ben Wallace gets hurt.

Ben Wallace wants a big contract later this year and there’s a chance the Pistons won’t give in to a big salary, so it’s imperative Detroit does its best with this group while it can. His biggest priority is getting healthy for the postseason, which means they’ll rest the guys near the end of the year. So the losses will eventually come to Detroit. As long as they win 60, they will have home court during the playoffs. If they don’t win it all, 70 won’t mean jack.