The Detroit Pistons are failing on both fronts
The Detroit Pistons entered the season with dreams of improvement but that hasn't happened.
The Pistons finally broke their epic losing streak but just started another one with two straight losses to start the new year.
What's made this year even more disappointing than the previous three is that the Pistons are actually trying to win. They aren't tanking for Cade Cunningham or Victor Wembanyama, this is them trying to win and they are currently 3-31 with little hope for turning it around in January.
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Last season fans leaned on player development as a reason to watch. At least Jaden Ivey and Jalen Duren were getting reps despite all of the losses. At least Cade Cunningham was coming back. At least there was a reason to hope.
But the Pistons are failing on both fronts this season.
The Detroit Pistons aren't winning
If the Pistons were winning a few games, not even good, but at least on their way to 25-30 wins, then you could make a case for playing Isaiah Livers, Killian Hayes and James Wiseman.
If these three were playing well and helping the team to win, it would make total sense. But they're not doing either. Livers is shooting 25 percent from long range and has been bad defensively. Wiseman still looks like he's just playing basketball for the first time. Killian Hayes is still shooting 31 percent overall and his pick-and-roll with Wiseman has been a disaster.
All three players are on expiring contracts and not likely to be part of the future. They are not playing well. The Pistons aren't winning. What am I missing here? Livers played 36 minutes last night while Ausar Thompson played 11.
James Wiseman played 17 minutes last night and managed to have three turnovers in that time. Marvin Bagley III, who is under contract for next season, didn't play at all. Killian Hayes played just 13 minutes and scored two points, though he did add six assists in that time. Marcus Sasser played zero.
So the Pistons aren't winning with players who aren't likely to be on the team next season and doing it at the expense of their young guys.