They aren’t exactly home free, but with 23 days and 12 games left in the regular season, the Pistons can at least see a vague outline of the playoffs on the horizon.

This would be as good a time as any to check the tires, pop the hood and run some routine diagnostics to see what damage the previous five months and 70 games has wrought and what, if anything, needs maintenance.

With two games left, it appears the Pistons will get out of the rough month of March with their lead in the Eastern Conference intact. They remained three games in the loss column ahead of the Cavaliers after beating the Nuggets in overtime on Monday.

• Pistons rested for playoffs, but questions remain