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Detroit Pistons’ Season Seems Bound By Two Rules

By Zac Snyder

Nov 6, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Marcus Morris (top right) in the huddle with forward Anthony Tolliver (left) and teammates against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports
Nov 6, 2015; Phoenix, AZ, USA; Detroit Pistons forward Marcus Morris (top right) in the huddle with forward Anthony Tolliver (left) and teammates against the Phoenix Suns at Talking Stick Resort Arena. Mandatory Credit: Mark J. Rebilas-USA TODAY Sports /
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2015-2016 has been a roller coaster ride for the Detroit Pistons, whose season seemingly can be defined and explained by two simple rules.

The Detroit Pistons have taken fans on a roller coaster ride this season that will hopefully end up with a return to the playoffs. With all the ups, downs and turns through about 70% of their regular season schedule, it remains difficult to predict whether a playoff berth will come to fruition.

That’s the thing about these Pistons – they are hard to predict. Just when you think you know them, they do something to change your opinion. Inconsistency has been the only constant.

For the young Pistons, this consistently inconsistent season is best understood in the context of two rules.

1. This team will surprise – both pleasantly and disappointingly
2. Things are never as good or as bad as they feel.

Monday’s road win over the Cleveland Cavaliers was the latest example. On a five-game losing streak and playing the second game of a back-to-back after being dominated by Anthony Davis in a home loss to the New Orleans Pelicans, a road game against the Eastern Conference-leading Cavs hardly looked like an opportunity to get back on track. But out of nowhere, the Pistons controlled the game and took down the Cavaliers.

This wasn’t even the first surprising win over the Cavs to end a streak of disappointment. Back in November, the optimism of a 5-1 start had faded with a four-game losing streak to end a west coast road trip. The Pistons returned home needing a win over the Cavaliers to avoid falling below .500 – an unlikely feat after falling to the Los Angeles Lakers two days before.

The Cavaliers and Golden State Warriors have a combined record of 90-20 with the Pistons accounting for three of those 20 losses. They are still just one of five teams to have beaten the Warriors, and did so in dominating fashion. They have taken 2-of-3 from the Cavaliers this season, winning both at home and on the road.

But there are results on the other side of the ledger of equal magnitude. The Pistons have lost games to the Los Angeles Lakers, Brooklyn Nets, New York Knicks and were swept by the New Orleans Pelicans and Denver Nuggets.

Viewed by game-by-game results, the Pistons are a maddening bunch. Take a step back and the Pistons are what we expected as a team hovering around .500 and fighting for a playoff spot in the East.

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Time will tell if Monday’s win will be another inflection point between an overly pessimistic trough and a pie-in-the-sky peak but just remember who these Pistons have shown themselves to be: a team that will both win and lose games they shouldn’t.

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