Pistons lottery odds: Detroit gets some unexpected help from Orlando

The Detroit Pistons aren’t necessarily tanking, but they will have one eye on the standings as the season winds down.

I’ve gone on the record many times to say that I am anti-tanking in general, but when you have already suffered through most of another losing season, the payoff of a high 2022 NBA Draft pick is pretty much all we have to look forward to.

I never cheer for the Pistons to lose, but they have helped themselves in the standings by losing a game they should have won against Portland and getting some help from the Orlando Magic, whose fans must be feeling a little deja vu.

Detroit narrowly edged out Orlando for the worst record in the Eastern Conference last season, leading to the number one pick and Cade Cunningham, and fans of the Magic are hoping that the same thing doesn’t happen again this season.

Orlando didn’t help their case last night.

Detroit Pistons lottery odds: Some unlikely help from Orlando

The Pistons’ loss against a very shorthanded Portland team put them in a tie with Orlando for the second-worst record in the league.

But the Magic got an unexpected victory last night against the Golden State Warriors, who have been in a slide without Stephen Curry. This was a game most people would have pencilled in as a loss for Orlando, so their win, coupled with the Pistons’ loss, put Detroit all alone with the second-worst record in the league.

There isn’t a difference when it comes to the odds for a top-4 pick, but the second-worst record can only fall to 6th, while the third-worst can drop to 7th overall.

The Pistons are almost guaranteed to end in the bottom four of the NBA standings, but would love the assurance of falling no further than 6th in the NBA Draft.

I really hope this is the last season that I have to worry about this stuff, as the Pistons are getting close to being good and could be competitive next season with internal growth from their young players and the right additions in the draft and free agency.

For now the Pistons are a half game behind the Magic and just one ahead of the Rockets, so once again, the ending of our season will be more about losses than looking forward to the playoffs.