Andre Drummond (Detroit Pistons photo)
It's no secret the Detroit Pistons suck. They're 29-34 and in the ninth spot, one spot out from the playoffs. There is speculation that Coach Stan Van Gundy, who regularly trashes the team in post-game press conferences after its losses, could be gone if the Pistons don't make the playoffs.
Chris Thompson of Deadspin is pessimistic about the team going anywhere:
It is with great indifference (because it is impossible to feel any particular way about these Detroit Pistons) that I must inform you, a person who will be vaguely surprised to be reminded that the Pistons are an NBA team—not so much because you forgot altogether that they are an NBA team but by the sheer improbability of anyone giving enough of a shit about the Detroit Pistons to deliberately remind you of their existence—that the Detroit Pistons are dead. Stick a fork in them.
They lost Saturday night to the Miami Heat, who currently hold the Eastern Conference’s eighth seed. The loss dropped the Pistons four games back of the Heat, which is not a deficit that should be insurmountable, but sure feels that way.
The Pistons have now lost eight of 10, after opening the Blake Griffin era with four straight wins. Their schedule hasn’t done them a lot of favors—five of those losses have come against legitimate playoff contenders—but they’ve also dropped games to the Magic, the Hawks, and the Hornets. FiveThirtyEight puts their playoff odds now at just seven percent—the Hornets, losers of two straight, and still a game back of the Pistons in the standings, are given better odds.
