For the last several seasons, the Detroit Pistons have either led the league in back-to-back games or been in the top three, but they are finally off this dubious list.
The Pistons released their schedule yesterday and have just 14 back-to-back games next season, which is below the league average. They had more in the previous four seasons, so the Pistons are finally off the list of the dregs.
I’m not saying the league uses the bad teams to help the good ones by pitting them against each other on the second day of back-to-backs...oh wait, yes I am! The number of times the terrible Pistons had to play the top teams in the league on the second day of a back-to-back was suspiciously high during the years they were tanking.
Next season the 76ers, Nuggets, Suns, Hornets and Wizards will lead the league in b2b games with 16 apiece with the Clippers, Raptors, Trail Blazers, Pelicans, Warriors, Heat and Jazz with 15 each. You might notice a theme here that supports my conspiracy theory, as most of these teams are expected to be bad.
The Pistons’ number is down from 15 last season and 16 the year before that, which could end up making a difference in the Eastern Conference, which is expected to be tight at the top.
Detroit Pistons’ schedule: Making the most of back-to-back games
Five of the Pistons back-to-backs won’t require them to leave the confines of home, which helps eliminate some of the problem teams have on no rest.
And it has been a problem.
Over the last five seasons combined, only 10 teams in the NBA have a winning record on the second game of a back-to-back.
It’s interesting when you look at the good teams on the dubious “most back-to-backs" list, the Nuggets, Suns, Clippers and Warriors are four of the teams who have cleaned up on no rest.
The Pistons are just 23-50 in that span, including 6-9 last season, the first time in years they were actually good. Even the good teams often lose these games, so having fewer of them is great news for the Pistons.
There were only three games separating the 3rd seed from the 5th last season, so picking up one or two more wins in back-to-back situations could be the difference in hosting a first-round playoff series or not.
The Pistons will have less to overcome next season when it comes to the schedule, which should help them reach the lofty goals they are setting.