The Pistons keep making the wrong kind of history as their losing streak has now reached record territory, writes Brian Mahoney of The Associated Press. Detroit dropped its 26th consecutive game Saturday night in Brooklyn, moving into a tie with the 2010/11 Cavaliers and 2013/14 Sixers for the longest single-season slide in NBA history.
There are no obvious win opportunities on the horizon as the team prepares for a rematch with the Nets on Tuesday, followed by a trip to Boston on Thursday. Two more losses would tie the Pistons with Philadelphia for the league’s longest losing streak of any kind, which was set during the 2014/15 and 2015/16 seasons.
“Everybody wants to win, everybody hates losing, so it’s hard,” Cade Cunningham said. “We’ve got to be realistic as well. Can’t just keep saying the same things over and over, like we’ll get the next one. There has to be like a plan of action, so we’re just trying to figure that out.”
Detroit stayed close for much of Saturday’s game, trailing by just two points midway through the third quarter before Brooklyn pulled away. Mahoney notes that familiar mistakes were a problem again for a team that commits the most fouls per game at 22.8 and ranks 29th in turnovers at 16.6 per night.
“We had a lot of tough breaks this year, but I try not to look at life that way. It just happens,” coach Monty Williams said. “When you turn it over 14 times you don’t expect 22 points, but it happens. Those live turnovers, they’re basketball death for possessions and we’ve had a lot of those this year.”
There’s more on the Pistons:
- Detroit needs to be active on the trade market, not only to stop the losing streak but to get the franchise moving in the right direction, contends James L. Edwards of The Athletic. Owner Tom Gores vowed this week that changes are coming, and Edwards believes the current team relies too heavily on young players without enough veterans to teach them how to succeed.
- Omari Sankofa II of The Detroit Free Press offers similar advice, stating that general manager Troy Weaver has placed too much emphasis on preserving cap space and not enough on acquiring talent. Sankofa hears that the front office is prioritizing veterans in trade talks and is hoping to “address glaring areas of need.” Those are numerous, he adds, as the current roster doesn’t have enough shooting, depth or defensive prowess. Sources tell Sankofa that ownership doesn’t plan an immediate move involving Weaver or anyone on the coaching staff, with the trade market being viewed as the best source of help.
- Saturday marked an emotional return to Brooklyn for Joe Harris, who was traded to Detroit this summer after spending seven seasons with the Nets, per Mark W. Sanchez of The New York Post. “[Brooklyn] means everything,” Harris said. “This is literally where I developed into an NBA player — here. If it wasn’t for my stop in Brooklyn, I’m not sure I’d be in a similar spot. You like to think that you would, but there’s a lot of dots that gotta be connected.”
For a team that is seeking veteran help, might want to look at their own bench with Joe Harris. He might be gassed at this point, but there’s nothing left for them to lose.
Bogdanovic and bagley for lavine
Add Wiseman
Wiseman has a ring
Bagley is not a winner
Make both Wiseman and Bayley too available
I see Sillyman is back. What happened, did your batteries need recharging or your chip burn out?
The good news is they only need to beat Toronto to avoid claiming the streak as their own. If there is any team they can beat right it’s the Raptors. They suck big time right now, it’s real bad.
Sounds like you druel over Toronto.
Or if they played Denver… Mike Malone would give him a win, similar to what he gave Silas last season.
Instead of mixing things up and trying out rookies and young players they stick with the same lineup and Vets. Doing the same thing over and over with the same results shows you are OK with failure.
Nor has there been experimentation within the offense. For as much athleticism as the Pistons have, they don’t use it in effective ways. The excuse originally was they didn’t have enough spacing to make it work, but with Bojan back and the team still losing they no longer can use that.
Well Cade, there should be an actual plan for every game and roles and minutes should go to the guys best able to implement it. Not where guys were drafted.
There is struggle (like the Raptors) and there is HISTORICALLY terrible sports franchise bad (Pistons). Troll
Overrated and way overpaid….. this is all about coaching.
And weaver, and the players. All are way overrated.
If they didn’t say that they’re trying to win, I would have called this team the most obvious tank since the Sochan PG experiment. Or all the SGA “injuries”! They’re the worst team from bottom to top I’ve ever seen.
People sometimes talk about players getting the bag and then checking out, but no one ever talks about that with a head coach. Yet it certainly seems like Monty has checked out with his fat new contract. Unfortunately, that’s what happens when you fall for the false narrative around media circles in the league that Monty is a wonderful basketball guy and winner. He may very well be loved off the court, but the truth is he’s always run questionable rotations, runs an unimaginative offense, likes to play favorites, can be very stubborn at times, lacks good communication skills, and always end up throwing a few key players in his doghouse over nonsense.
Obviously, it’s not all on Monty. Everyone has some fault here, particularly the GM. But given that big new contract he signed he seems the most likely to stick around, and that would be a mistake as I’m sure the Pistons will be better next year which will make his job look safer by default. If the team has any sense, it would fire him now and eat that remaining money. Don’t compound the mistake by lacking the conviction to do what’s necessary. Because if and when the Pistons get back to the playoffs, they aren’t winning with this guy. Don’t forget the multiple epic no shows in the playoffs from the Suns while Monty was in charge.
But don’t forget that Monty actually wanted to take a break from coaching
It was the dumb Pistons front office that aggressively pursued him and gave him a contract he couldn’t refuse
When you hire a guy that wasn’t looking to work, the odds of him checking out are way higher
Good point.
Zealot:
BINGO!
Monty didn’t even want to coach.
He kept saying no and they kept adding money to the deal.
He went to Notre Dame – he might be dumb but he ain’t stupid. Probably neither.
He had to take the job. It’s obvious he doesn’t want to coach.
That’s why I mentioned the Brad Stevens scenario for him on here yesterday…
We shall see what happens to Monty. They have no winning vet on this team. But I do believe Weaver is a winner as owner.
Bogdanovic for DeAndre Hunter ?
Who says no ?