The Detroit Pistons broke a franchise record, although it is hardly something to be proud of.
With their loss to the Los Angeles Lakers, 133-107, on November 29, the Pistons set a new franchise-worst record of 15-straight losses per NBA.com.
It has been a forgettable season for the Pistons, who struggle to find answers to their losing skid. And at the rate they are performing, it won't be surprising if they mark a new record for an in-season losing streak.
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Before that loss to the Lakers, the Pistons record for worst losing streaks stood at 14. This happened three times for the Motor City squad.
- 2021-2022, November 19, 2021 to December 19, 2021
- 1993-1994, December 20, 1993 to January 21, 1994
- 1979-1980, March 7, 1980 to March 30, 1980
Aside from that, the Pistons also absorbed their fourth-worst defeat this season in their last five games. That included losing to the Toronto Raptors last November 19 by 29 points (142-113), the Indiana Pacers by 23 on November 24 (136-113), and the Washington Wizards by 19 on November 28 (126-107), per the Detroit Free Press.
Monty Williams left clueless on Pistons' struggles
Monty Williams, someone who has had success with the Phoenix Suns in the past, hardly had excuses for the Pistons' lackluster showing so far this season.
Before the loss to the Lakers, he was already critical of the Pistons, saying that they had no fight and had a lot of growing up to do, SI.com reported.
"It's just a level of growing up on this team," Williams said. "Maturity, understanding what gameplay discipline is, all the stuff we talk about all the time. It's enough talking. That wasn't fight on the floor. That wasn't Pistons basketball by any stretch of the imagination."
Pistons' next games won't be easier
Williams and the Pistons need to figure out how to stop the skid. They barely have time for that as they face the New York Knicks next on Thursday, November 30, before returning home to tangle with the Cleveland Cavaliers on Saturday, December 2.
Cade Cunningham is doing his share, scoring at least 25 points per game in the Pistons' last three games. He is averaging 22.2 points, 7.1 assists, and 3.7 rebounds in 17 games so far, per Basketball-Reference.com.
Isaiah Livers is the only other player who has been helping out on the offensive side. However, his 7.3 points, 2.3 rebounds, and 1.3 assists may hardly support Cunningham. Hence, Williams needs to dig deep to figure out how to address the Pistons' misfiring offensive line.
The Pistons can make an excuse that they are a young team trying to build a new era. So unless something credible, such as an NBA trade, happens, their losing ways are expected to continue. Worst, it could set a franchise record that may stay there for a long time.
So far, the longest losing streak in NBA history belongs to the Philadelphia 76ers. They dropped 28 games from the 2014-15 and 2015-16 seasons via CBS Sports.
Detroit is now beyond that midway point. It is a shameful record but a strong possibility unless Williams can pull out something from his bag of tricks.
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