NBA Standings ordered by point differential: Pistons nearing Bobcats level

The Detroit Pistons are making all of the wrong kinds of history this season.

They've already smashed the franchise record for consecutive losses and now have league's all-time record in sight.

They are on pace to flirt with the worst record in NBA history and the roster may need an exorcism at this point.

They aren't just losing, the Pistons are losing badly, with a point differential that is entering historically bad territory.

NBA Standings ordered by point differential

Here are the two conferences ranked by their average scoring margin. A +10 margin means that the team is ten points per game ahead of their opponent on average. In a normal NBA season, there is usually one team flirting with a +10 margin and at least one around -10 at the bottom.

Last season, in which the Pistons won 17 games, they had the 2nd-worst point differential in the league at -8.2, which should show just how bad this year has been.

Western Conference

Minnesota +7.8
OKC +6.8
LA Clippers +5.6
Denver +3.9
Houston +3.8
Dallas +2.8
New Orleans +2.1
Phoenix 1.3
LA Lakers +1
Sacramento +0.5
Golden State +0.2
Memphis -6.3
Portland -6.9
Utah -8.3
San Antonio -11.6

There is a steep drop-off between the playoff contenders and the bottom four in the Western Conference and overall you see a group with parity.

Eastern Conference

Philadelphia +11.9
Boston +9.1
Milwaukee +5.2
Orlando +3.4
New York Knicks +2.6
Brooklyn +1.7
Miami +1
Indiana +0.7
Cleveland -0.1
Atlanta -0.2
Toronto -2.3
Chicago -3.7
Charlotte -9.5
Washington -9.8
Detroit -12.1

There are a lot of mediocre to bad teams in the Eastern Conference this season. Before Philly fans get too excited, their average margin has been boosted significantly by playing the Pistons three times. Boston will probably catch them after they get a few shots at Detroit.

The Pistons predictably have the worst average point differential in the league and are getting close to some of the worst in NBA history.

Even the Process Era 76ers were never this bad, as you'd have to go back to the 2011-12 Charlotte Bobcats (-13.9) to find a team with at least a -12 point differential. That Bobcats team won seven games in a strike-shortened season.

You know you are getting into bad territory when you are starting to challenge records set by the Charlotte Bobcats, one of the worst teams in NBA history.

A few more blowouts would get Detroit there and add to the embarrassing legacy of futility the team is leaving this season.