The last in a weekly series on teams that could be first-round playoff opponents for the Toronto Raptors.

The danger in Detroit is that the Pistons might be in “just happy to be here” mode when the NBA playoffs open next week, and it’s understandable if that sentiment exists.

Ending a post-season drought that lasted seven long, losing seasons, the Pistons sewed up a playoff berth on Friday night. In doing so, the not only clinched a spot for themselves but eliminated the Washington Wizards in the process.

It was the culmination of a difficult rebuilding process undertaken by coach and team president Stan Van Gundy, and was made all the more sweet by the current Eastern Conference circumstances.

“It’s a little more satisfying because it’s in a year where the East was a lot better,” Van Gundy said. “Last five years it would have taken 37 or 38 wins to get in. We had to get to 43 with two games to go still to get in. It wasn’t easy.”

There is still a question of whether the Pistons will finish seventh — pitting them most likely against Raptors — or eighth, which likely means a first-round meeting with the Cleveland Cavaliers.

The Indiana Pacers hold the tiebreaker advantage over the Pistons, and it could be the last night of the regular season before Detroit knows who it will play.

But that, in some way, is secondary to the greater accomplishment of just making it.

There isn’t a wealth of playoff experience on the roster and that may be an issue when the first round begins, but it will prove invaluable in the future.

And as Raptors fans know, the first playoff appearance is a good proving ground for a second or a third.

“I am really happy for the first-timers in there. Especially Marcus (Morris) and Tobias (Harris) ; Andre (Drummond),” Van Gundy said. “You go four or five years without getting in the playoffs, it starts to wear on you. To come from where we were a year ago or for Andre and KCP (Kentavious Caldwell-Pope) two years ago or Tobias in his career or Marcus … phenomenal.”

What the Pistons would present to the Raptors in a playoff series is easy to see. In Drummond, they have a solid big man who is among the best rim protectors in the league. And Morris is a tenacious defender who would be assigned the task of limiting DeMar DeRozan, and Pistons point guard Reggie Jackson thrives in pick-and-roll offence.

But they don’t have that first-hand experience.

“I’ve been around the game for a long time and picked a lot of people’s brains,” Harris said. “The biggest thing is just to play as hard as you can every single night and we have to be ready. The level of intensity picks up another notch going into playoff basketball, probably two or three notches, so we really need to be on our game.”

The Week Ahead

No. 7

Detroit — 43-37

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Tuesday vs. Miami

Wednesday at Cleveland

No. 8

Indiana — 42-37

Sunday vs. Brooklyn

Tuesday vs. New York

Wednesday at Milwaukee

No. 9

Chicago — 40-40

Monday at New Orleans

Wednesday vs. Philadelphia