The Detroit Pistons beat the Orlando Magic in the second of two games in Orlando.
The Pistons are still 1.5 games “ahead” of the Cleveland Cavaliers for last place in the Eastern Conference after the Cavs also won against the Atlanta Hawks, snapping a ten-game losing streak.
There have been some positive and negative trends emerging over the last several games that are worth watching as the season progresses.
Let’s start with the negative before we get to the positives.
Detroit Pistons: The Pistons need 3-point shooters
The Detroit Pistons have shot poorly from long range all season with the exception of Jerami Grant and rookie Saddiq Bey.
It’s gotten even worse over the last few games, as the Pistons have been threatening to break the backboard with their bricks.
Over the last four games, the Pistons have shot a staggering 147 3-point shots and only made 42 of them for a pathetic 28.5 percent. Yikes.
Something has to change here, as the Pistons are launching as many 3-pointers as the peak Houston Rockets but making a percentage that is starting to make me wonder if I should try out for the team, as I couldn’t be much worse.
Josh Jackson has missed all ten of his long-range attempts in the last two games, Svi Mykhailiuk hasn’t been able to buy one all season and even the normally steady Grant and Bey seem to have caught the brick-itus.
The Detroit Pistons have dropped to 26th in the NBA in 3-point percentage, only ahead of fellow bottom feeders Oklahoma City, Washington, Cleveland and Houston.
This will be something the Pistons need to address in the offseason, as it is difficult to compete in the modern NBA If you can’t shoot 3-pointers.