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The Detroit Pistons are struggling in back-to-backs

By Duncan Smith

Feb 28, 2017; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson (1) waits for a play to start during the fourth quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pistons won 120-113 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 28, 2017; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Reggie Jackson (1) waits for a play to start during the fourth quarter against the Portland Trail Blazers at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pistons won 120-113 in overtime. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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The Detroit Pistons have struggled in a few areas this season, but perhaps the biggest issues have stemmed from the second game of back-to-backs.

The Detroit Pistons have had some significant areas of concern this season, but without a doubt the most glaring issues surround their performance in the second games of back to backs (known as SEGABABA). While the Pistons are 27-23 in games where they have one day of rest or more, they’re among the league’s worst teams on no rest.

The Pistons are actually tied with the New York Knicks for third-worst in the NBA with a record of 2-9. The only teams worse than the Pistons and Knicks are the Dallas Mavericks (2-10) and the dreadful Brooklyn Nets (0-10).

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While the record is bad, things actually get worse from here. The Pistons have the NBA’s worst net rating in SEGABABA, and it’s by a wide margin over every team but the Nets. The Mavs have a -7.4 net rating, the Knicks have a -8.3 net rating, the Nets have a -11.1 net rating and the Pistons check in at -11.3.

It wasn’t always like this, however. Through December 3rd, the Pistons were 2-3 and had a net rating of -1.6 in SEGABABA, both respectable marks. Since then, however (yes this corresponds with the return of Reggie Jackson), the wheels have fallen off. Over this stretch the Pistons are 0-6 with a net rating of -19.6 and a true shooting percentage of 45.7 percent.

Nobody has played especially well in SEGABABA with the exception of Marcus Morris, who has been an absolute workhorse. Morris is averaging 16.1 points per game while shooting 46.9 percent from the floor and 40.6 percent from long range. He’s actually been better in SEGABABA than his season averages.

On the opposite end of this spectrum is Reggie Jackson. He’s averaging 10 points per game and 5.3 assists. Jackson is shooting 31.9 percent from the floor and 27.3 percent from three-point range. His net rating is -20.2, his true shooting percentage is 39.5 and his usage is 24.2 percent.

Also of note, Stanley Johnson has played his heaviest minutes in SEGABABA, averaging 19 minutes per game in those appearances, while just 17.9 minutes with one day rest and 13.3 minutes on two days of rest.

The Pistons have five back-to-backs left which means they’ll have five more SEGABABAs to play before the season ends. For them to have a chance to climb out of the eight seed (and possibly just to maintain it), their performance in these games will have to improve significantly.

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