It’s crunch time for the Detroit Pistons
The Detroit Pistons have been a frustrating team to watch this season, but some perspective is necessary–the Pistons still have a great shot to make the playoffs with the remaining games they have left.
The Detroit Pistons suffered their worst loss of the season in a 124-81 drubbing against the Washington Wizards.
There’s no way to sugarcoat the Pistons–they are inconsistent.
What’s most perplexing about the Pistons is that they don’t have an identity. They sustained a top-10 defense for most of the season, but have really gone off track as of late, as their offense has flourished (with the latest game against Washington being the exception.
In their last 10 games, the Pistons have surrendered over 100 points six times. They’ve surrendered at least 110 points three times during that span–all in the last three games.
During that time, the Pistons’ offense has scored over 100 points seven times, but they’ve also scored less than 90 points three times.
What does all of this mean?
It means the Pistons don’t have an identity, and this late into the season, that’s a major issue for a team with playoff aspirations.
Right now the Pistons sport a top 15 offense per 100 possessions and are tied for 12th defensively.
The problem is that the Pistons have a give and take approach on both sides of the ball. If they’re offense is hot, it usually correlates to the team surrendering too many points. The opposite holds true as well.
Then some games–like the most recent games against the New York Knicks and Washington Wizards–the Pistons don’t show up at all on either side of the ball.
It’s frustrating that Detroit has games where they look totally lost given that they have a great opportunity to make the playoffs for the first time since 2009, but some perspective is necessary.
While their seesaw style of play is inexcusable, the Pistons do have the youngest starting five in the NBA, and only one of their starters, Reggie Jackson, has any playoff experience.
Games like Monday night’s against the Wizards is discouraging, but given the way this team has played all season long it’s hardly shocking. Besides, the team finished .500 at 2-2 on their four game road trip, which is hardly anything to complain about.
The Pistons also have a franchise record nine home games in a row starting Wednesday against the Atlanta Hawks–and the Pistons are pretty good at home at 19-11 on the season.
Even if this team can’t find an identity between now and the end of the season, the Pistons are primed to make their first playoff series in six years–but they have to make the most of these next nine games.
It’s crunch time for the Detroit Pistons.