Let's Check In On The Detroit Pistons To Break Down Some Stats On Their Quest For The Worst Losing Streak In NBA History
Man, I've missed crushing some NBA stats. Seems like yesterday I was blogging how efficient PJ Tucker was at helping his team win by standing around and avoiding the act of doing... anything. What a pimp. It was amazing. And now we begin some fun NBA stats for 2023-24 with the hapless Detroit Pistons who lost their 22nd game in a row on Friday. This is now officially the worst losing streak in franchise history for the Pistons topping their 21-game skid in the early 80s.
As you can see there's still work to do to overtake the 2015 76ers for the worst losing streak in NBA history. I couldn't tell you the name of a single player on the current Pistons roster as I'm pretty sure Ben Wallace is now retired (that's about where I'm at with contemporary Pistons players). But the road to 29 losses in a row can end on New Year's Day vs the Rockets. But first the Pistons will need to lose to Atlanta tonight, then Utah, Brooklyn, Brooklyn again, Boston and Toronto. I think we'll know if this is happening after the Utah game as both the Hawks and Jazz are sub .500. So these next two games are crucial.
This Pistons losing streak is really bad, but let's look at it from a broader perspective to make it look worse. Their 2-24 record on the season fails to capture how shitty they ended the 2022-23 season. If we take their last 50 games played the Pistons 4-46 record gives them a gentlemen's 8% win probability.
This leaves one with questions. Well one question. Has any team won fewer games in any 50-game span in NBA history? I ran the numbers to find out and it turns out two teams have with just three wins in a rolling 50 games:
Listen up kiddos. The 90s Nuggets and Mavericks were a VIBE. Not a good one. But a vibe nonetheless. Sports card makers knew this and tried desperately to "Jazz" things up with a cool silvery background but that didn't help Thurl Bailey (one of the better Thurls in NBA history) try to shoot a free throw like one throws a medicine ball in 3rd grade gym.
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What about putting some flames on the ball and using an abstract background that takes the focus completely off Brad Davis's blinding thighs?
Let's circle back to the 2023 Pistons. They will need to lose their next eleven games to tie the legendary 90s Mavs and Nuggs 3-wins in a 50 game span. That would also put them at 33 loses in a row for a commanding NBA record.
I'm not sure if they got it in them but that might be because I literally don't know any player on the team and refuse to look it up. But as any fan knows, if your team is going to be hot garbage, you gotta lean into it for the storylines so you have something to root for when watching.
I'll be rooting for you Pistons. Whoever any of you are.
- Jeffro