The Detroit Pistons beat the Heat last night on a last-second buzzer beater for Miami’s 9th straight loss, the most in Erik Spoelstra’s career.
But the downfall of “Heat Culture” since the Jimmy Butler trade is not my concern, as the Pistons are trying to secure a playoff berth and it’s all a numbers game from here.
7
The magic number for the Pistons that would guarantee them a playoff spot without having to traverse the play-in tournament.
This would be the first time Detroit has sniffed the playoffs since the 2028-19 season. The Pistons are going to win more games this season than they did in that one and will hopefully fare better in the playoffs.
6
Number of points separating the Pistons and Heat in Detroit’s three wins over them this season. I know our big friend who called the Pistons “boring” wasn’t watching last night, as it’s a Wednesday, so why would he be working? And it’s obvious he hasn’t watched any of the games against Miami this year.
12 and 8
More games left in this season, eight of which are against teams that are at least going to the play-in tournament, so Detroit’s work to secure a playoff spot is far from over.
5.5
Games between the Pistons and the 7th-seed Atlanta Hawks. In case you are wondering, the Hawks have 13 games remaining and seven of them are against teams that are currently in play-in range at least, including two against the Magic, who are right on their heels.
0
Games separating the Pistons and Bucks for the 5th seed. The Pacers have overtaken the Bucks and now own the 4th seed by one game. The Pistons have already lost the tiebreakers with both the Pacers and Bucks.
9
Number of triple doubles Cade Cunningham has this season after logging another one last night. This puts him 3rd on the list all time for triple doubles in a season by a Pistons player, behind Grant Hill (10) and Grant Hill (13).
Cunningham is tied for 3rd-most in the NBA this season with Domantas Sabonis, one behind LeBron James.
29
Number of triple doubles Nikola Jokic has...THIS SEASON. Sheesh.
20
Combined games lost in current streaks by the 8-15 seeds in the Eastern Conference. Those who argue that conferences should be eliminated for playoff seeding will be talking loud right now, as both the Heat and Bulls are 29-40 and likely to make the play-in tournament as the 9th and 10th seeds.
The Sacramento Kings, who are currently the 9th seed in the West, are 35-33 and you’d have to go all the way down to the 13th-place Spurs to find a team in the West with only 29 wins.