It’s been a month to forget during a magical resurgent season for the Pistons
The Detroit Pistons are the best story in the NBA this season, tripling their win total from last season and securing their first playoff berth since 2018-19. Whatever magical pixie dust was sprinkled on them has worn off in the last month. They are just 8-9 since March 5 and have taken a step back on both ends of the floor.
The goal was to make the playoffs, and they’ve done that. But it seems that since then, a team powered by hustle, emotion, and will has let its foot off the gas. They have three games this season to remember what propelled them to this magical season in the first place.
They have games remaining tonight against the New York Knicks and then a home-and-home against the Milwaukee Bucks . Their home finale on Friday will be broadcast on NBA TV, and the season finale on the road in Milwaukee will be on ESPN.
They certainly still have something to play for. The Pistons are assured a playoff spot and can fall no lower than their current sixth seed. They are two games behind the Bucks, who also have three games remaining. Their playoff matchup is also still a bit up in the air. The Knicks in the third spot, are two games up on the Indiana Pacers.
For the Pistons to improve their playoff fortunes, they will probably need to win out. That doesn’t seem likely based on the team’s current play. To be fair, some of that has to do with a rough patch in the schedule, and some of that has to do with injuries to key players.
First, Cade Cunningham sat out a stretch with a leg contusion. Tobias Harris has also missed five of the last six games. They aren’t quite as bad as their recent record would indicate — their net ratings stands at +3.2 despite being below .500. To put that in content, the 10-10 Los Angeles Lakers net rating sits at -0.8.
Still, anybody watching the games can see this is not the same dogged defense, and the offense has clearly missed a step without the engine of Cunningham or the steadying presence of Harris.
The Pistons have been a sum greater than their individual parts all season, and with those key contributors missing, the flaws of the remaining parts are starting to show. It’s harder for Ausar Thompson to fit effectively inside an offense missing a creator or three-level scorer. It’s more difficult to find open lanes and open shots for more limited offensive players.
The hope is that once Harris returns to the lineup, the Pistons’ pieces fall back in place and the team rediscovers its identity. It would be a shame to waste this magical season by being complacent. And I would not describe the character and makeup of this team as anything less than a group that fights to the end.
The playoffs might be secured, but there is plenty left worth fighting for.