The Pistons are one loss away from tying the all-time single-season record for most losses in a row after dropping their 25th straight to the depleted Jazz on Thursday night.
Playing without Lauri Markkanen, Keyonte George, Jordan Clarkson, Talen Horton-Tucker and Omer Yurtseven, the Jazz defeated the Pistons 119-111, as Detroit’s woes off the bench and from beyond the arc continued. Still, Cade Cunningham believes the Pistons can turn it around with this group.
“We’re not 2-26 bad,” Cunningham said (Twitter link via The Athletic’s James L. Edwards III. “No way are we that bad. So, yes, I think we can turn it around. I think we can play a much better brand of basketball — executing game plan, not turning it over, keeping your man in front of you. I was the head of that snake. This isn’t about the system. This is about the players and what we’re doing on the floor. Those three things aren’t about a system.”
As Spotrac’s Keith Smith observes (Twitter link), the Pistons are not only just one game from tying the single-season record of 26 straight losses, they’re also three losses from tying the all-time longest losing streak, a record the Sixers hold from when they lost 28 straight across the 2014/15 and ’15/16 seasons.
“It’s definitely on my mind,” Cunningham said of approaching the record (Twitter link via Omari Sankofa II of the Detroit Free Press. “That’s history that nobody wants to be a part of. We’re trying to build something that’s sustainable. It’s not like we’re just trying to win one game. We want to win multiple games.”
Things are at a breaking point in Detroit. As captured by NBA on ESPN (YouTube link), Pistons fans erupted in “sell the team” chants during the game.
To their credit, coach Monty Williams and Cunningham both have taken full responsibility. For a coach in his first year with a team and a young player in what’s essentially his second NBA season, it’s telling that neither have pointed blame elsewhere.
“I want to be careful with my words because this one hurts more than most of them,” Williams said (Twitter link via Sankofa). “A team that played last night gets 30 points off turnovers and rebounds. This one is unbelievably hard to understand how we can get outworked in those categories. That is absolutely on me.”
The Pistons next play the Nets in back-to-back games before facing the Celtics and the Raptors. They have four chances to avoid taking sole possession of the worst losing streak in NBA history.
“To be on the wrong side of history, nobody wants to be there,” Cunningham said (Twitter link via Sankofa). “That is definitely an extra edge that we have to have, and we should’ve won this game. We didn’t, so gotta come back next game and be locked in. I gotta come in and be locked in and more solid down the stretch.“
Beg to differ there, Cade
There was a story a few weeks ago that said the Pistons weren’t looking to trade Bojan. If they don’t, they need to fire their GM. They need so much and Bojan could net a pretty good return. Dude has shot the ball very well since returning (and throughout his career) and his contract is not outrageous. Several teams should be in on him.
Maybe this explains why they can’t win, every team is exactly what it’s record is, when you don’t believe you are what your record is…you aren’t gonna operate with the appropriate grind
On paper one would think they should begin their ascent to making the playoffs and more with the drafts and talent they’ve acquired, but the chemistry hasn’t been given a chance. This is a super young team that will need two years before making a serious impact.
Trade Ivey and Hayes for Jordan Hawkins, Cody Zeller and Nance with a pick. Trade Bagley, Livers with a future 1st and 2nd for Kelly O and Taylor Hendricks. Trade Bojan to NY for Evan Fournier and a 1st. Trade Wiseman to Washington for Gafford or Shamet or Delon Wright and Galo (latter two both waived) Young players at every position with veterans. Gets rid of the bad energy and uncertainty. You could add in trading for Paul and Marcus Morris Brother for a culture change
Nevermind this one. Delete
All of those trades are horrible
Bojan, Hayes and Wiseman and picks to GS for Chris Paul and Jackson-Davis. Trade Bagley, Monte Morris and Livers for Marcus Morris, Korkmaz and Bamba. PG. Paul, Ivey, Sasser SG. Cunningham, Burks, Korkmaz, TW Stanley Umude SF. Thompson, Harris, Knox PF. Morris, Stewart, Jackson-Davis C. Duren, Bamba and sign Noel. Pistons should do this for the rest of the season.
Why do you propose that a team that is 2-26 trade it’s draft picks? I’m not entirely sure what your endgame is there. Personally, I wouldn’t do anything. They’re 2-26. Instead of making trades, I’d take the rest of the season to see if this team can build any type of winning chemistry while evaluating everything about the franchise.
Just a 2nd. I think they need a change now. Bojan and Bagley are two contracts or players they don’t need for next year. If they won’t play Wiseman than trade him for a expiring contract
Some in-game adjustments and couple breaks here and there, this Pistons team could easily be 3-25
The Pistons are already on the verge of being eliminated from next season’s playoffs…
Trade wiseman now
for Giannis?
And a 2nd
Yes free Wiseman
Chants against the ownership usually translate into someone lower down the ladder being fired. If I were Troy Weaver, I’d be worried.
He signed an extension last summer, Monty is in year 1 of a 5 year deal))
Especially since he/they were stupid enough to hire Monty to such a big contract. Doubt he gets fired in year one.
Las Vegas Pistons?
going for 2 and 80
So far Monty is on pace to earn $1.33M a win (projected 6-76 at the same pace). Not a bad chunk of change for every time another team comes back to the locker room and asks “how did we just lose to the Pistons???”.
If this team isn’t already shopping Bojan and Burks, then the front office needs to be fired immediately.
Obviously they have to finish with a whole number of wins. But after last night you now need to round up to get to 6 wins.
I feel bad for Pistons fans. No fan base deserves this level of organizational incompetence.
If your best player believes they aren’t 2-26 bad then the Pistons have bigger issues.
Probably true, it’s likely worse.
Pythagorean record: 5-23 which supports Cade but still…
My Bulls are good now, so they should be 1-27! Hell, they should be 0-28. Let’s be real, they surprised two teams early in the season lol
Gotta take accountability, they suck get better. Teams are not going to just hand you a win and feel sorry for you.