Detroit Pistons Up And Down Season Coming To A Tanking End
Standing at a record of 24-44 with a mere 14 games left the Detroit Pistons 2014-2015 NBA season seems to be coming to a close.
They’re free-falling after losing their 3rd game of the season to the woeful Philadelphia 76ers. Coupled with embarrassing losses to the likes of the Minnesota Timberwolves and Los Angeles Lakers this team has been outright disappointing at times.
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Just a few mere weeks ago the Pistons were playoff contenders and hanging in there among a putrid Eastern Conference. At the highest of highs NBA analysts nationwide were calling the Pistons a dark-horse candidate to make some noise come playoff time.
How things change in a span of a few weeks. Following the injury of breakout-star Brandon Jennings and trade for Reggie Jackson this Pistons team is very different from the start of this very season.
All in all though there is one thing that has stayed consistent from the Pistons’ 5-23 start and the Josh Smith era. They’re coming to another disappointing, tanking season.
At this point late in the season there really is no incentive for the Pistons to continue to win games. With their recent slide they can easily go from playoff contender to potential top-10 pick.
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While that’s more an indication of how bad the Eastern Conference is it’s still very true. The Pistons can get a favorable pick from the current pool of college talent. With it being March Madness these impact college players are on full display.
Their win against the Memphis Grizzlies the other night was exciting but alas useless. Losing to the 76ers the very next night should show Pistons fans the type of inconsistency that has plagued this Pistons team.
While winning feels admittedly good and should be good for the young guys it’s hard to see an incentive for it. With another playoff-less season it’s even harder to see big man Greg Monroe stay and re-sign a contract long-term.
With all the drama in recent years Monroe has been a constant professional and it’s honestly hard to see him stay. The Pistons still do have bird rights for him but if a playoff contender still offers him a max he should and will take that contract.
If Monroe leaves the one constant low-post threat the Pistons had will be gone. His absence will be felt deeply especially if Team President/Head Coach Stan Van Gundy finds an inadequate replacement this off-season.
How Van Gundy deals with the Jackson situation will also be vital. He’s set to be a Restricted Free Agent and the Pistons can control his destiny.
With how the team has played with him though it’s hard to see them re-sign him to a new contract. Since he gave up so much money from the Oklahoma City Thunder previously what contract he’ll get this summer is a huge question mark.
All in all though the Pistons seem to be headed back to the lottery for the 6th straight year. The worst part is if they’re picking somewhere in the mid-lottery of about 7th-9th where it’s hard to find superstars in that position. Mediocrity might be the harshest place to be in the NBA.
Their Eastern Conference supremacy from the early-2000’s seem like a long, long time ago. Pistons fans haven’t cheered for a winner in years. They got a glimpse of one when Jennings was leading the team but even that seems like ages ago.
Van Gundy’s first year as both an Executive and Head Coach is coming to an end though. If he can’t turn this ship around soon even the fans might start to turn on him.
Luckily, the Pistons will have money to spend. Releasing Smith while also having expiring contracts will do that. There are multiple holes the Pistons will need to fill and it’ll be an interesting off-season once again.
Now, your thoughts. How do you feel going into the off-season? How do you feel about the entire season as a whole? Whatever the case, the Pistons have some work to do and Van Gundy will have to lead the way once again.