Road to (dubious) history: How can Pistons avoid record losing streak?

The Detroit Pistons are just a few video games away from making historical past. Simply not the sort of historical past any group desires to be making.

After dropping on Saturday to the Brooklyn Nets, the Pistons have now misplaced 26 consecutive video games.

That matches the NBA document for many consecutive losses in a single season (held by the 2010-11 Cleveland Cavaliers and 2013-14 Philadelphia 76ers) and is 2 again of tying the all-time document of 28 straight defeats set by the 76ers over two seasons in 2015.

For context on simply how dangerous the Pistons have been, they’ve fewer wins than the NFL’s Detroit Lions within the calendar 12 months of 2023. The Pistons have 9 wins by way of 72 video games, whereas the Lions have 13 victories by way of 17 video games.

Actually wretched stuff.

The Pistons really began the 2023-24 season at 2-1 (they misplaced by one level of their opener in opposition to the Miami Warmth). They’ve spent extra days above .500 than a handful of groups, and the identical period of time because the 11-18 Toronto Raptors, even with their present 2-27 document.

With Detroit so near setting the all-time mark, the query that appears to maintain popping up is who will lastly be the one to snap the streak and lose to this group?

Let’s check out the Pistons’ subsequent three video games and description their path in direction of undesired historical past and presumably avoiding it.

Nets (14-15) at Pistons, Tuesday, Dec. 26, 7 p.m. ET / 4 p.m. PT

Detroit’s subsequent opponent is a well-known foe, as they host the Nets simply three days after their final matchup. The stakes will likely be increased this time as a loss for the Pistons will imply they maintain the only spot for many consecutive losses in a single NBA common season.

Brooklyn picked up a convincing 126-115 win in that contest on Saturday, main by as many as 21 factors.

A significant weak spot for the Nets coming into that matchup was their defence. That they had misplaced 4 in a row and allowed greater than 120 factors per recreation in that span.

Nevertheless, the bottom-10 defence was capable of maintain the Pistons beneath that mark and snap their very own dropping skid within the course of.

Brooklyn was helped by the truth that Detroit saved getting in its personal approach. The Pistons had 14 turnovers that resulted in 22 factors, a plus-14 edge for the Nets. Detroit has mad a behavior of giving the ball away this season because the Pistons at the moment common probably the most turnovers per recreation within the NBA.

The excellent news for the Pistons was their often pedestrian offence (twenty eighth within the league) confirmed constructive indicators. They shot almost 50 per cent from the sector and 43 per cent from distance, properly above their season averages.

It was clear that Detroit was capable of benefit from a lacklustre defence. The truth is, they’ve proven a propensity to try this throughout this stretch. Regardless of averaging simply 109 factors per recreation, the Pistons have put up a median of 116 factors of their final 4 video games — all of which had been in opposition to bottom-10 defences.

The Pistons had the sport to inside a basket late within the third on Saturday, however they couldn’t maintain their composure and gave up a 15-0 run that put them right into a gap too deep to beat.

“We proceed to shoot ourselves within the foot,” centre Isaiah Stewart stated. “If we do this, we’re not going to actually win any video games doing that. We’re not that ok to get well from these sorts of errors.”

If Detroit can proceed to place up offence in an environment friendly method in opposition to the Nets, the Pistons will give themselves a practical shot. What they actually need to concentrate on is avoiding careless errors.

Pistons at Boston Celtics (23-6), Thursday, Dec. 28, 7:30 p.m. ET / 4:30 p.m. PT, Sportsnet ONE

Undoubtedly, the Pistons’ hardest problem in relation to snapping their streak will likely be in opposition to the Boston Celtics.

Tied for the perfect document within the NBA, the Celtics have a top-five offence and defence, and have received six of their final seven contests.

The Pistons will probably need to hope for a chilly capturing night time from past the arc by the Celtics to have an opportunity at successful.

Boston likes to do most of its harm within the perimeter recreation, rating first in three-point makes and makes an attempt per recreation. Compared, Detroit ranks on the backside of the NBA in relation to long-distance capturing.

The Pistons as an alternative concentrate on attacking contained in the arc as they rank within the prime 5 for two-point makes and makes an attempt, versus the Celtics, who’re bottom-three.

If Boston struggles to hit from three-point vary and Detroit retains attacking on the basket, it received’t routinely equal a Pistons win by any means, however it may simply be their finest shot.

Toronto Raptors (11-18) at Pistons, Saturday, Dec. 30, 6 p.m. ET / 3 p.m. PT

If (or extra probably, when) the Pistons make it to Saturday with out a win, they’ll be tied for the all-time document for many consecutive losses.

So, which means it’ll be as much as Toronto handy Detroit a record-setting twenty ninth straight defeat. Coincidentally, when these two groups performed earlier within the season the Raptors handed the Pistons a 29-point loss.

Raptors followers may really feel assured heading into that recreation contemplating how the final one went, and the truth that Toronto has received 5 straight in opposition to Detroit.

Nevertheless, Toronto has misplaced eight of its final 10 general and has been struggling not too long ago with three consecutive defeats.

The Raptors’ most constant high quality this season has been inconsistency. They’ve picked up spectacular wins over groups on the prime of the standings like Milwaukee and Minnesota, however have additionally misplaced to groups on the backside like Charlotte and Portland.

Guaranteeing something in relation to this Toronto squad appears like a dangerous proposition.

Detroit’s path to a win on this one will likely be much like the Brooklyn recreation. They’ll need to attempt to benefit from a group that’s been sputtering defensively as of late. By way of their final 10 video games, Toronto has allowed a median of 120 factors, and through their three-game skid that’s bumped as much as 126.7 an evening.

The Raptors have additionally been infamous for giving up massive leads, particularly all through this newest stretch. Toronto has been down double-digits in 23 of their 29 video games this season, and have discovered themselves down by 10 or extra in 10 consecutive contests.

If the Pistons can get off to a scorching begin and construct an enormous lead, just like the Raptors have grown accustomed to giving up, it might be an excessive amount of of a spot for Toronto to beat.

It’ll be fascinating to see if the Pistons can finish their winless drought over this stretch or in the event that they’re destined to enter the document books. Both approach, the NBA world will likely be watching in anticipation.

For what it’s price, Pistons head coach Monty Williams continues to consider in his group.

“All people feels down once you lose,” stated Williams. “You need to enable folks to be human, however the best way that they arrive again the subsequent day is one thing that I’m blown away by … I’ve been round plenty of groups and never many groups have that sort of resilience.”

— With recordsdata from AP.

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