Detroit Pistons on brink of NBA playoff elimination; it could matter

Probably within the next couple of games, the Detroit Pistons will be officially eliminated from qualifying for the NBA playoffs (I hope you are not too shocked by this news). But, are there actual consequences?

With the NBA season winding down, the playoff field is beginning to take shape. Conversely, the teams being eliminated from playoff contention is also starting to get real.

We have had some fun on the PistonPowered Twitter site involving the playoff hopes of Detroit. After a victory, we usually post a tweet showing how many games they are out of making the playoffs.

There are almost always two, diametrically opposed, reactions from fans:

1. Utter horror that the Pistons could fall out of NBA Draft lottery contention.
2. Joy that the team could actually have some post-season action.

Pretty soon, those victory tweets will become moot.

With the advent of the new (and controversial) Play-In Tournament, a team only has to finish 10th in its respective conference to make the post-season. Since there are 15 teams in each conference, you do not exactly have to be the 2016 Warriors to be in it.

As of the morning of April 25, the Pistons have a record of 18-43 with 11 games left in the regular season. The Washington Wizards are 10th in the East at 26-33, and are nine games ahead of the Pistons with 12 games to go for them.

For the Pistons to catch the Wizards and get the 10th spot, Detroit would have to go 10-1 the rest of the season and Washington finish out 1-11. Not to break the hearts of passionate Pistons fans, do NOT bet your rent money on that happening.

The Magic Number right now is: 4. Any combination of four Pistons losses/Wizards wins will officially eliminate Detroit. Most likely, this will occur by the end of the week.

The question then becomes, so what?

The Detroit Pistons soon can’t make the NBA playoffs. What’s next?

Jerami Grant recently stated how he thinks the Pistons could do something big as soon as “next season”.  He is Detroit’s best player, and he knows making a late playoff push would be fruitless.

However, there is a big difference between expecting not to make the playoffs and knowing, no matter what you do, you can not.

I am sure Lions fans feel disappointed when they are officially eliminated from making the NFL playoffs, even though they know, pretty much from the start, it probably was not going to happen. Still, sadness.

Once the playoffs has officially closed for them, will the Detroit Pistons do anything differently?

Unlike some bottom-dwelling teams, Detroit has not told its top players to go home and relax and we will let you know when we trade you. Key veterans like Grant, center Mason Plumlee , and Wayne Ellington are still playing in some games. It is, frankly, a tribute to the culture the Pistons are building that they still want to.

But, when the reality hits soon that Detroit is literally playing for nothing, will (should?) that change.

For many on the Pistons roster, there is no question they want to keep going.

With youngsters like Killian Hayes (who missed three months due to injury), Sekou Doumbouya, Isaiah Stewart, Saddiq Bey and Saben Lee, I am sure coach Dwane Casey wishes they had 20 more games to get them more experience.

There are also players like Jahlil Okafor, Dennis Smith Jr., Tyler Cook, Josh Jackson, Frank Jackson and Hamiduo Diallo who want to establish themselves, after having a rocky road early in their careers. They want to get out there on the court and show the Pistons, and other NBA teams, they belong.

However, it seems rather pointless to play guys like Grant, Plumlee, Ellington and Cory Joseph. We know all about them, nothing new to be gained.

The only things that could happen if they played was an injury in a meaningless game (bad) or actually helping Detroit win a meaningless game (very bad to the Tank for Cade crowd).

With other NBA teams trying desperately to lose, winning an extra game or two with the established vets, for no benefit whatsoever, seems counterproductive.

Nine of the Pistons last 11 games are at home, a great, comfortable spot for the rookies and those who need to prove themselves, to play.

Ellington is a free agent at the end of the season. If he suffered a major injury, at his age, it would probably be the end of his career. To do so in a game that meant nothing would make it even worse.

Once it is officially, official that Detroit can not make the playoffs, Casey should just play the kids and players he and GM Troy Weaver need to make a decision on.