Area of the schedule that has been particularly cruel to the Pistons

There is some measured optimism and excitement around the Detroit Pistons for next season but also plenty of concerns. 

One of them is the schedule, which starts out with six tough games that could put the Pistons in an early hole and set off some of the PTSD from last year’s debacle. 

The Pistons weren’t done any favors by the schedule makers last year either, as they led the league in back-to-back games, which seemed particularly cruel for a team trying to climb out of the basement of the NBA.

The Pistons were just 5-10 in back-to-back games last season, which is actually better than you’d expect considering that represents nearly half of their total wins. 

Back-to-back games have become an increasing concern, as teams and fans worry about injuries (and load management to avoid them) and the fact that teams lose more often when they are on no rest. 

It’s been a theme for the Detroit Pistons over the last 20 years. 

Detroit Pistons schedule: Back-to-backs 

The Pistons have 13 back-to-back games next season, which is pretty much the league average. 

The NBA has tried to reduce these occurrences, as they are sick of teams resting their best players on the second game of a back-to-back. Fans are sick of it too, and you have to be careful buying tickets ahead of time. Be sure to check the schedules of both teams before buying tickets to be sure they aren’t on back-to-backs or you may not get what you paid for. 

A recent article in HoopsHype researched back-to-backs over the last 20 years to see which teams were most affected and the Pistons were tied for 4th-most with the Bulls in that time with 384, only behind the Pacers (386), Bucks (390) and Hawks (393). 

To no one’s surprise at all, NBA darling LA Lakers had the fewest back-to-backs in that time with just 336, which equates to about 2.5 fewer back-to-backs per season for two decades. 

Some of this is just geography, as the teams in the Midwest have less distance to travel, but the LA Clippers had the 6th-most back-to-back games in that span, so the location excuse doesn’t add up. 

But this research also shows how much things have changed, as the Pistons had 23 back-to-back games in both the 2004-5 and 2010-11 season, 10 more than they’ll have next year. 

At least the league has caught on that back-to-back games aren’t good for anyone, including players and fans, but you do have to wonder how many injuries from the previous area could be linked to playing on no rest.