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Projecting Pistons, Pacers, Bulls, Wizards final record

By Braden Shackelford

Mar 7, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) reacts to making a basket and getting fouled with 15 seconds to go in the game against the San Antonio Spurs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeats San Antonio 99-91. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Mar 7, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Indiana Pacers forward Paul George (13) reacts to making a basket and getting fouled with 15 seconds to go in the game against the San Antonio Spurs at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. Indiana defeats San Antonio 99-91. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /
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Feb 6, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Stanley Johnson (3) reacts to a referees call in front of Indiana Pacers guard George Hill (3) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Pacers won 112-104. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports
Feb 6, 2016; Indianapolis, IN, USA; Detroit Pistons guard Stanley Johnson (3) reacts to a referees call in front of Indiana Pacers guard George Hill (3) at Bankers Life Fieldhouse. The Pacers won 112-104. Mandatory Credit: Brian Spurlock-USA TODAY Sports /

Recap:

Indiana Pacers projected final record: 45-37 (11-7 over last 18 games)
Chicago Bulls projected final record: 45-37 (13-7 over last 20 games)
Washington Wizards projected final record: 44-38 (14-6 over last 20 games)
Detroit Pistons projected final record: 43-39 or 44-38 (11-8 or 12-7 over last 19 games)

While FiveThirtyEight’s odds liked the Pistons’ playoff chances a little better, there are other factors that could alter the Pistons’ final record.

Obviously predicting games this far out doesn’t factor in any potential injuries or hot and cold streaks each team could sustain. It’s also impossible to predict the 50/50 games, because by definition, they could go either way.

Who’s in the playoffs at the end of the season will come down to the above factors, and which team is able to squeeze out the most 50/50 games–which the Pistons have the most of.

While our version of projections doesn’t look favorable for the Pistons–who have the toughest remaining schedule according to win percentage–anyone who’s watched the Pistons knows what the team is capable of .

The issue is that Detroit is young team that is wildly inconsistent, winning by a wide margin against really good teams, only to lose against teams they have no business losing against.

In other words, the Pistons could veer off track and find themselves at the bottom, or end up near the top because they won most of their 50/50 games.

What do you guys think? Will the Pistons make the playoffs?

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