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Projecting the Detroit Pistons final record for 2015-2016

By Braden Shackelford

Jan 4, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy bites on a pen cap before the game against the Orlando Magic at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pistons win 115-89. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports
Jan 4, 2016; Auburn Hills, MI, USA; Detroit Pistons head coach Stan Van Gundy bites on a pen cap before the game against the Orlando Magic at The Palace of Auburn Hills. Pistons win 115-89. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports /
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With 20 games left, PistonPowered will project what the Detroit Pistons’ record could look like at the end of the season.

The Detroit Pistons are 31-31 and have exactly 20 games left. What will their record look like at the end of the season? To get an idea we need to take a look at the Pistons’ remaining opponents and categorize the remaining games on the schedule.

Detroit Pistons’ remaining schedule:

Sunday, March 6th: Portland Trial Blazers (33-30)
Wednesday, March 9th: @ Dallas Mavericks (33-29)
Friday, March 11th: @ Charlotte Hornets (33-28)
Saturday, March 12th: @ Philadelphia 76ers (8-54)
Monday, March 14th: @ Washington Wizards (30-32)
Wednesday, March 16th: Atlanta Hawks (35-28)
Friday, March 18th: Sacramento Kings (25-36)
Saturday, March 19th: Brooklyn Nets (18-45)
Monday, March 21st: Milwaukee Bucks (26-36)
Wednesday, March: 23rd Orlando Magic (27-34)
Friday, March 25th: Charlotte Hornets (33-28)
Saturday, March 26th: Atlanta Hawks (35-28)
Tuesday, March 29th: Oklahoma City (42-20)
Friday, April 1st: Dallas Mavericks (33-29)
Saturday, April 2nd: @ Chicago Bulls (31-30)
Tuesday, April 5th @ Miami Heat (36-26)
Wednesday, April 6th: @ Orlando Magic (27-34)
Friday, April 8th: Washington Wizards (30-32)
Tuesday, April 12th: Miami Heat (36-26)
Wednesday, April 13th: @ Cleveland Cavaliers (44-17)

Piston’s win percentage: (31-31) 50%

Remaining teams combined win percentage: (615-622) 49.7%

Games the Pistons have a strong chance of winning: At Philadelphia 76ers, Sacramento Kings, Brooklyn Nets, Milwaukee Bucks, Orlando Magic, at Orlando Magic

50/50 games: Portland Trail Blazers, At Dallas Mavericks, at Charlotte Hornets, at Washington Wizards, Atlanta Hawks, Charlotte Hornets, Atlanta Hawks, Dallas Mavericks, at Chicago Bulls, at Miami Heat, Washington Wizards, Miami Heat

Games the Pistons will probably lose:  Oklahoma City Thunder, at Cleveland Cavaliers

Pistons projected final record: 43-39

How I determined the Pistons’ final record: I gave the Pistons a win for every game that fell into the “have a strong chance to win” column (six wins). Since the games I’ve placed in the 50/50 category are considered toss-up games, I gave the Pistons a .500 record (six wins and six losses). Finally, I gave the Pistons a loss for every game that fell into the “should lose” category (two losses).

Add that all up and the Pistons have a 12-8 record over their last 20 games.

Obviously games that the Pistons “should win” is a bit subjective, as are the games that I’ve defined as “50/50 games”. Shoot, there are probably fans out there that think one or both of the games in the “should lose” category are misplaced.

Furthermore, the Pistons could very well lose a game that they “should win”, lose most of their 50/50 games (since they are pretty evenly matched with these opponents), and then somehow upset both the teams in the “should lose” category–or they could do the exact opposite, because nothing is certain in sports.

Needless to say there is no perfect formula for predicting a team’s final record, but 43-39 feels reasonable for the Pistons given their remaining schedule.

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