Rock bottom is a term that was originally coined by addicts to describe the point in their lives when they couldn’t sink any lower. Every day I keep thinking the Detroit Pistons have hit theirs and every day they prove me wrong.
The Pistons were at least competitive against the Nuggets last night on the second game of a back-to-back, fresh off getting destroyed by the Raptors the night before.
Detroit was missing a bunch of players of course, but the Nuggets were also missing Jamal Murray, and eventually Nikola Jokic after he was ejected for arguing with the officials.
*Side note* I’ve said many times that I am not a ref blamer and I do think the NBA referees are adequate overall. But there have been a lot of quick T’s this season, and this is the second time a superstar has been thrown out while playing the Pistons for minor infractions. The great George Blaha wasn’t having it and reminded these refs that no one came to the arena to see them blow whistles. The league needs to look in the mirror when they are tossing Giannis for mean-mugging while Miles Bridges makes his debut for Charlotte. *Note over*
Even in a home game where the other team does not have its best two players and Cade Cunningham finally got some favorable whistles, the Detroit Pistons still lost their 12th straight, inching towards the franchise record for consecutive losses.
Detroit is down bad, but if you think it can’t get any worse, think again.
The Detroit Pistons’ schedule and losing streak
Detroit will have a tough road game in Indiana on Friday against Tyrese Haliburton and the Pacers, who are one of the surprise teams in the Eastern Conference so far this season, with a 7-5 record.
The Pistons did beat the Pacers twice last season, so they have a fighting chance to end their losing streak on Friday against a team who will be playing their 3rd game in four days.
But if they don’t, the Pistons will face the Washington Wizards on November 27th at home with not only the NBA’s worst record, but also the team record for consecutive losses on the line.
If the Pistons lose to both Indiana and Washington, we will have hit our rock bottom, as the Pistons will have tied for the longest losing streak in team history, with no immediate wins in sight, as the schedule gets brutal just afer the Wizards.
I think it’s safe to say that if the Pistons lose to the tanking Wizards at home for their 14th straight loss, we will have officially hit a low point in Detroit basketball, which is quite a feat considering the team won just 17 games last season.