Come on Detroit Pistons, who were three-time NBA champions and major contenders for as many seasons, are today not even a shadow of that glorious past: after losing in overtime to the Boston Celtics last Thursday the 28th, they reached the longest streak of Consecutive losses for a team in the same NBA season. In fact, they are not only the worst team in American basketball, but also the biggest failure of any professional league in the land of the Stars and Stripes.
At TD Garden, the Pistons took a 21-point lead in the first half against a Boston that wasn't at 100%. But then came the attack, led by Kristaps Porzingis and Derrick White, which leveled the score at 108 after 48 minutes. In Detroit's first overtime of the season, the Shamrock showed off their offensive prowess and posted a final score of 128-122.
The Detroit Pistons' losing record in the NBA
With this agonizing fall, the Pistons surpassed the poor streak of 27 consecutive losses recorded by the Philadelphia 76ers from 2013 to 2014 and the Cleveland Cavaliers from 2010 to 2011, both of which were recorded in a single season. They also tied the all-time record, also the Sixers, of 28 consecutive losses between the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons.
The Philadelphia 76ers were the sole owners of the record for most consecutive losses, with 27 between the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons. Photo: USA Today
What's more, there was nothing comparable in any other American major league. In MLB baseball, the Philadelphia Phillies lost 23 straight times in 1961. In NHL hockey, the Capitals recorded 17 straight losses in 1974-75 and the Sharks in 1992-93. And in the NFL, the 2008 Lions and 2017 Browns finished 0-16.
The reasons for the Pistons debacle
The Pistons, champions in 1989, 1990 and 2004, had players the caliber of Isiah Thomas, Dennis Rodman and Chauncey Billups. Today they have a predominantly young squad, between 20 and 24 years old, with a few exceptions such as: Bojan Bogdanovic (34 years). However, they have not yet fully consolidated.
Cade Cunningham, number 1 in the 2021 draft and one of the team's big stars, scored a whopping 41 points against the Nets on Tuesday the 26th and 31 points against Boston last Thursday the 28th. However, he has only averaged 23.3 points per game so far this season and his field goal percentage is 44.9%. The aforementioned Bogdanovic is the second-best scorer with 19.7 points per game.
Cade Cunningham, a rising star, is the Pistons' biggest piece. Photo: USA Today
In general, the Pistons' numbers are catastrophic:
- They are the 28th ranked team (out of 30) with an average of 109.7 points per game.
- They are number 17 in the league bounces off (43.7 per duel)
- They are ranked 23rd in percentage terms Field goals (con 46.7%)
- At 33.4%, they are the second-worst team in the NBA.
- They are the quintet with the highest average values personal fouls per game (22.9)
- They are the second most common box with the most lost the ball through obligation (16.5).
Currently, the Pistons' record is 2 wins and 29 losses, the worst in the Eastern Conference and the league in general. The fans can't take it anymore and have shouted “Sell the team” more than once in the Little Caesars Arena, dissatisfied with Tom Gores' management.
The Detroit Pistons could be crowned the team with the absolute worst losing streak in the NBA if they lose to the Toronto Raptors this Saturday, December 30th. It's up to them not to finish the season like the 2011-12 Charlotte Bobcats (7-56) or the 1972-73 76ers (9-73), who have the worst numbers in history at the end of a season.