Authors Note: The original plan was to do a Pistons Power Rankings once every two weeks. Then we started losing. And losing. And losing. And I claimed I was boycotting posting until they won. Well, they finally won, so it's time to rank the awfulness. (Additional note: Things got a little busy in life, so we're going to make the PPR a once a month thing for the rest of the season.)
1. Streaks
The Pistons have two two-game winning streaks this year! (And a one-gamer to boot!) They demolished the Knicks and the Bucks in early November before throwing in an OT win over the Kevin Durant and Russell Westbrook-less Thunder in the middle of that month. Once December hit, the Pistons were at it again, cruising to wins over the Suns and Kings on a Western road trip. The three streaks added up to five big wins for the rebuilding Pistons--Ahahaha, it's too hard to do this, onto the actual rankings:
1a. The Actual Streak
The Pistons lost 13 games in a row from Nov. 15 to Dec. 9. There isn't much else to say on that, but let's dive deeper and rank each loss:
- 76ers: The joke about Kentucky being able to beat the 76ers is funny, but the fact that they might give the Pistons a run as well is embarrassing.
- Bucks (twice): At the start of the season, saying the Bucks would be a playoff contender instead of the Pistons didn't hold much merit. Now they're Euro-stepping all over the court and in the playoff picture (even if Jabari Parker did just get hurt) and the Pistons are the Pistons.
- Lakers: Remember when the Pistons won the 2004 title over the heavily favored Lakers? It's becoming harder and harder to remember.
- Thunder: THEY DIDN'T HAVE WESTBROOK OR DURANT AND THE PISTONS STILL COULDN'T WIN.
- Magic: The most amazing part of this streak was that it wasn't that difficult of a schedule. Teams in the Eastern Conference just aren't that good again. Yet the Pistons keep losing to them.
- Celtics: (See above.)
- Suns: Detroit ended their streak against the Suns, so it's not all bad.
- (Tie) Grizzlies, Warriors, Trail Blazers, Clippers, Hawks: These three teams are good, the Pistons are not.
2. Tanking
This has been the plan all along, right?
3. The Greg Monroe situation
Stan Van Gundy's thought he could make the big three work. He wanted to keep Greg Monroe and didn't trade the talented big man. Monroe has had a decent season, but there's almost no way he's coming back to the Pistons. Monroe's agent David Falk told the USA Today, "[Monroe] does not want a trade. He wants to honor his commitment to Stan and give it the year and evaluate everything at the end of the season." The end of the season evaluation is likely going to end with Monroe leaving and the Pistons getting nothing in return.
4. Andre Drummond
After a slow start to the year, Andre Drummond has at least shown signs of what the Pistons know he's capable of lately. He's looked like the Drummond of old, upping his averages from 10.5 points and 11.8 rebounds per game in the first 18 games of the season, they're up to 12.1 points and 12.3 rebounds through 27 games.
5. Jodie Meeks
Meeks has been a bright spot: The Pistons are 2-3 with him in the lineup after he missed the team's first 22 games with a back injury. He's averaging 10.2 points in 24 minutes per game, but his shooting is at least another option for a team that needs all they can get.
6. The Best highlights are coming from the other teams
The Giannis Antetokounmpo Euro-step? Ugh again.
7. The entire Toronto game
Just when it seems things can't get any lower, Toronto comes into the Palace, destroys the Pistons and has way too big of a fan base for an away game. Now the Pistons have lost 12 straight at home and Drummond is getting dunked on.
8. Josh Smith
Who the heck even knows what to do with him anymore?
9. Stan Van Gundy
The savior has been anything but. For a look at better times, read through the Preseason PPR: Hope, reality, and more hope.
313. "It feels good to get into the second round." - Tracy McGrady
We always reserve the final ranking for better days, and a comeback seemed appropriate (even though the Pistons have no shot of making a comeback this season). They erased a 3-1 deficit against the Magic in 2003, and DBB'er Sean Corp's remembrance is fantastic.
Not Ranked: I ended my first post on DBB with a simple: "Go Pistons!" Someone in the comments was kind enough to let me know it's actually, "Go Shitty Team, Go!" Thanks.