Unfazed by the mediocrity of their Pistons, sports fans in the city of Detroit are somehow reliving the sad Dead Wings era of the early 1980s, and apparently some have had enough of the basketball team's terrible performances.
On Tuesday, the lousy Pistons wrote a chapter in NBA history by losing 118-112 to the Brooklyn Nets. The Michigan team suffered its 27th consecutive defeat, marking a new silver medal for a season. The record of 28, the work of the Philadelphia 76ers, was set in the 2014-2015 and 2015-2016 seasons. Additionally, Detroit could get even with a loss to the Boston Celtics on Thursday.
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Additionally, the local public doesn't seem to like owner Tom Gores. In the stands of Little Caesars Arena, fans called for the sale of the franchise, which the businessman has owned since 2011. With a record of 2-28 this season, the team is headed for its sixth playoff exclusion. In 2019-2020, they had a poor record of 82-250.
However, Gores had a very specific message for his detractors.
“You can say whatever you want, but this is ridiculous,” he said during a recent conference call, the Detroit Free Press reported. Aside from winning – and we should win more often – we're doing everything we can to bring the best to Detroit. Sell the club? They don’t understand what we accomplish in the community.”
Community contribution
For Gores, it is necessary to analyze more than just performance on the pitch.
“Leaving the team would mean abandoning the community. I will not do that. (…), we made a big difference and that means a lot to me,” he added. I understand that for many people all that matters is winning, but over the years we have worked for our market here. Off the field, we do multi-billion dollar businesses. I know people are angry, but these are crazy ideas.
Despite these words, the Pistons' misery on the floor continues. The club has not won a playoff game since 2008.