I think you may be getting ahead of yourself proclaiming they are a playoff team after 3 games. I mean they beat Washington and Boston who are a combined 0-6 and lost to Memphis who is 1-2. Let's wait until about 20-25 games and see where they are.
Even if they end up being sacrificial lambs in the 1st round, they're still technically a "playoff team".
Just for reference, the 8th seed in the East the last 10 seasons
2012-2013: Milwaukee 38-44
2011-2012: Philadelphia 35-31
2010-2011: Indiana 37-45
2009-2010: Chicago 41-41
2008-2009: Detroit 39-43
2007-2008: Atlanta 37-45
2006-2007: Orlando 40-42
2005-2006: Milwaukee 40-42
2004-2005: New Jersey 42-40
2003-2004: Boston 36-46
Obviously, past seasons don't mean much, but I doubt the East has improved to a point where the cutoff will be much higher.
With 52 games in conference and 16 in the division, if they take care of the lesser teams, they could probably sneak in at .500. Chicago and Indiana will be tough, but Cleveland and Milwaukee are winnable matchups. There's quite a few more teams in the East, non-divisional, who are easily beatable. Last season they were 25-27 in conference games. They were also 9 games back of the final playoff spot. Based on the moves they have made, I'd like to say they've improved quite a bit, maybe even a lot. If they improve against the East (say 5 games) and improve upon that horridly atrocious 4-26 record against the West (say another 5 games), that puts them right on the chopping block for a 1st round execution, a "playoff team" in the East.
Also, Memphis isn't terrible so I wouldn't look into their record after just 3 games. The Pistons completely blew that game with a 6 point lead and a minute left, it
should've been a win. However, we'll see if that was just a fluke or if this is something we'll be seeing all season...if it is, they probably won't make the playoffs.