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It’s been a while since both the Pistons and Red Wings have graced our springtime with playoff appearances. It was way back in 2009, the Pistons getting unceremoniously swept by Cleveland and the Wings dropping a Game 7 heartbreaker for all the marbles to Pittsburgh.
Could this be the year that our tandem of Detroit winter sports squads make a postseason showing again? It could be, but based on the standings, we could very well have a completely empty schedule in April, too.
The Red Wings, currently riding a fairly impressive 24-year playoff qualification streak, have less to worry about than the Pistons. They are in second place in the Atlantic Division, tied with Boston and Tampa Bay. Now they are by no means comfortable, as just a couple less points would have them on the outside looking in. But for now, even with so many teams bunched together, the Winged Wheelers near quarter-century streak of success all but guarantees a chance at the Stanley Cup.
The Pistons, however, have fallen on hard times. Kentavious Caldwell-Pope went down, which made a team that wasn’t exactly deep to begin with even less so. Brandon Jennings has been quiet and is now the subject of daily trade rumors. Andre Drummond is the Pistons lone All-Star, but he also has struggled of late. His free throw shooting has now begun to affect other parts of his game, like rebounding and defense, according to coach Stan Van Gundy.
The Stones have sputtered into the break (with one game remaining) having lost five of seven, the only two victories coming over the lowly Nets and Knicks. The most recent home outing against Toronto was one of the least inspiring efforts of the season.
But, at 27-26, the Pistons are still holding ever so slimly onto that 8th and final playoff spot. They lead the pesky Hornets by a half-game, and the Wizards by 2.5.
In as much as everyone more or less agrees this Pistons team is not one destined for an extended playoff run, the franchise is in desperate need of at least a taste of postseason play. Remember that 16 of 30 teams make the NBA Playoffs (same as NHL); so going close to a decade without showing your face can start to feel like an eternity.
Both hockey and hoops have important dates in the Motor City tonight. The Red Wings welcome in Ottawa, a team just six points back of Detroit in the Eastern standings. And the Pistons bring in the Nuggets, a squad with an ugly record, but also a fair amount of talent. They stole a game from the Pistons in Denver a couple weeks back, and it’s a must that this season series be split after tonight.
Despite neither hometown club really posing a threat to run away with a championship this spring, it’s still nice to have a dog in the fight. It would be historic for the Red Wings to make it a clean 25 straight years with playoff hockey, and it would be important in this Pistons build back to league-wide relevance to at least get a feel for that April-May basketball intensity once again.
The Pistons will retire Chauncey Billups' number tonight at the Palace during the game against the Denver Nuggets.
